April 02, 2009

Reconciliation Process in Budget Resolution

“I regret, however, that the discretionary spending level is less than President Obama’s request.  The Obama Administration, to its great credit, recognizes the serious consequences of the previous Administration’s lack of investment in American infrastructure.  I will continue to support President Obama’s full discretionary budget request.  I look forward to working with the Chairman of the Budget Committee on this matter as the resolution moves forward.”

“I also compliment the Chairman for making the right decision to forego reconciliation instructions in this budget.  Unfortunately, the House budget resolution does include reconciliation instructions, and that should be of concern to every Senator.”

“The House provisions open the door in conference to language requiring as many as five Senate Committees to report reconciliation legislation – the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Finance Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.  While the House reconciliation instructions are ostensibly for health reform and education bills, they could also be used to report other bills under the jurisdictions of those Committees – including climate legislation -- as long as the bill complies with the budget’s net deficit reduction instructions.  Whatever legislation those Committees decide to report, their bills would require only 51 votes for Senate passage.  Under the Budget Act, debate is limited to 20 hours, and amendments are sharply curtailed.” 

“I am one of the authors of the reconciliation process.  Its purpose is to adjust revenue and spending levels in order to reduce deficits.  It was not designed to cut taxes.  It was not designed to create a new climate and energy regime, and certainly not to restructure the entire health care system.  The ironclad parliamentary rules are stacked against a partisan Minority, and also against dissenting views within the Majority caucus.  It is such a dangerous process that in the 1980s, the then-Republican Majority and then-Democratic Minority adopted language, now codified as the Byrd Rule, intended to prohibit extraneous matter from being attached to these fast-track measures.  The budget reconciliation process will not air dissenting views about health and climate legislation.  It will not allow for feedback from the people or amendments that might improve the original proposals.”

“If there are rules – such as the Byrd Rule – that frustrate Senators, I hope that they will take the time to understand that those rules exist for a reason.  They protect every Senator, regardless of whether they are in the Majority or Minority Party, because even a Democrat in the Majority today may have a viewpoint in the Minority tomorrow.”

“I understand the White House and Congressional Leadership want to enact their legislative agenda.  I support a lot of that agenda, but I hope it will not require using the reconciliation process.  Again, I commend the Chairman of the Budget Committee for excluding reconciliation instructions, and look forward to working with him to ensure those instructions are not included in conference.”

                                                                        ###

back