How to Defuse The Nuclear Option
Harry Reid Threatens Health Care Nuclear Option
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on Tuesday said "If we can't work this out to do something within the committee structure, then we'll be forced to do the reconciliation." Adding, "It remains to be seen as to whether we will have to do reconciliation. I am confident and hopeful we won't have to do that, but time will only tell."
Clearly, the Democrats plan on passing their Health Care legislation, regardless of what the American people want. The people have spoken, openly, forcefully and often on this subject, and the clear message has been that Americans do not want an ill-conceived Health Care bill forced upon them. The arrogant Senators and Representatives in Washington have heard from the voters and clearly, they do not care what the American people have to say on the matter. But, there may be something that can be done yet.
The reconciliation legislation, which would only require 51 votes in the Senate instead of 60, can be slowed, if not halted by the "Byrd Rule." The Byrd Rule, named for Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) allows Senators to place restraints on reconciliation. Specifically, if a Senator believes that any provision of the legislation is "extraneous," they may raise a "point of order."
Wikipedia definition: A point of order is a matter raised during consideration of a motion concerning the rules of parliamentary procedure. A point of order may be raised if the rules appear to have been broken. This may interrupt a speaker during debate, or anything else if the breach of the rules warrants it. The point is resolved before business continues.
The point of order requires that there be 60 votes to waive the Byrd Amendment, which in this case could garner enough moderate Democrat support to stop Prince Harry in his tracks. If it should come to pass that the Democrats try to steamroll this legislation through the senate using the "nuclear option," be sure to call or fax your Senators to remind them of the Byrd Rule.
The majority of Americans want health care reform and they want a public option. The big insurance companies are already between us and our doctors and they’re rationing care. Even with large employers providing a group plan, people can only choose between a higher or lower plan, but only one company – their employer has options, not the employee. Why should it matter who I work with? People can’t afford to be entrepreneurs or small employers because they are locked in a job to keep their insurance if anyone in their family is sick or injured.