“This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. Honestly the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill, go back to the House, start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill.”1) It's an over reaction to say this is the collapse of health care reform. Especially if this compromise can yield the 60-votes to break a filibuster.
2) It's true they only need 51 votes with reconciliation but don't forget reconciliation has problems of its own. The reconciliation process doesn't include regulatory issues, only budgetary ones. So if the votes exist to pass the regulations, and the regulations are good, why can't progressives come back with a reconciliation bill?
3) Starting back over is wrought with even more peril than going forward. Failure on this issue will be a huge blow to this administration and a feather in the cap to 'The Party of No.' This is unacceptable.
I will say it until I'm blue in the face: this bill does a tremendous amount of good. Start the reconciliation process if you're still not satisfied but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Via Greg Sargent
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