Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) gave Republicans his most direct warning to date that he is prepared to use a procedural maneuver to pass healthcare reform with a simple majority.
Reid told Republicans that he would prefer to pass healthcare reform under regular order but warned that he would not hesitate to use budget reconciliation if the legislation stalled in committee. The Senate Finance Committee began marking up a sprawling healthcare reform bill on Tuesday morning.
“If we can’t work this out to do something within the committee structure, then we’ll be forced to do reconciliation,” said Reid, who said the tactic would be used as a “last resort.”
As blockbuster as this is being treated by both The Hill and Huffington Post, it's nothing he hasn't said before. Besides, this is more of an admonition to keep things moving, rather than threatening over a particular part of the bill (i.e. everyone's favorite whuppin' boy, the Public Option).
