Matthew Green, associate professor, politics, was quoted in a National Catholic Register story on healthcare reform and defunding Planned Parenthood.
Reconciliation allows for the speedy movement of legislation that addresses mandatory taxation and spending, or the debt limit, by requiring only a 51-vote simple majority to end debate and pass a bill. Debate over reconciliation bills is limited to 20 hours on the Senate floor, and Senate rules prohibit any unrelated amendments being added.
Matthew Green, an associate fellow at The Catholic University of America’s Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, told the Register that “The key to a reconciliation bill is that, under the Senate rules, it can’t be filibustered.”
There are limitations to the process, though. In a normal year, the Senate typically can only consider one reconciliation bill, unless Congress were to pass a second budget resolution. And health care and tax reform are other priorities competing for Republican attention in the coming year.
“Ryan has promised to find a bill to restructure or eliminate Obamacare. But you can’t do that and then separately do Planned Parenthood defunding,” said Green, because that would be two reconciliation bills.
“It means a tough choice for Republicans in the House.” ...
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