Larwence Odonnel on Olbermann says reconciliation on public option will still require 60 votes.

[obamaisbestone]

He claims the changes to the bill will requite sixty still. He did not hold out much hope.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. no

[Bitwit1234]

20. If the senators were so afraid of loosing all that Health Industry

money they could change it so there is no filbuster and no 60 vote. THOSE TWO THINGS ARE NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION. They can be changed. If the republicans, if they get in again, would be stupid enough to change them back OK>>>>>>

[Beetwasher]

2. He's Wrong

n/t

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TomCADem]

4. So, Reconciliation Was Never A Viable Option?

I thought the whole point of reconciliation was to avoid a filibuster.

[FBaggins]

8. No.

The point of reconciliation was to make sure that a filibuster couldn't keep a basic budget from getting through. It's use for other purposes is always problamatical... and the further you go from pure budget items and toward new programs, the harder it is to get past that hurdle.

[jaysunb]

5. That's NOT what he said.

Nice try though.

[blue neen]

6. Could we have a link to what O'Donnell actually said, please?

Thank you.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Bullshit

It's a simple majority-plus-one vote.

[Donnachaidh]

9. that's a crock.

link to what he said.

[dgibby]

10. I saw the program.

I doubt there's been time to get it out on video yet; however, O'Donnell is one smart cookie with lots of experience on the Hill. I believe him. He went on to talk about the semantics Reid and the WH are using. I can't remember the exact quote, but this is basically what I got out of the conversation:


They're couching their support for the PO, each one saying they'll support the other if the other one proposes it. Basically, for us, it's Charlie Brown and Lucy and the football again.

In other words, don't get your hopes up.

[onestepforward]

13. I did too.

I hope I am remembering this correctly, but I believe O'Donnell said that the "procedural" votes will need 60, not the final vote. He was pessimistic about it.

[S_E_Fudd]

11. Final passage cannot be filibustered...

Amendments etc are subject to a filibuster...so you would have to get by those before you could get to final passage. I agree...he did not hold out much hope.

[SlingBlade]

12. Bernie Sez NO. It's there for the taking, Simply reach out

[JamesA1102]

14. I like O'Donnell but

he has been totally negative about Healthcare reform from the beginning. And much of it seems to stem from ego. He keeps saying "I couldn't get it through in 94, so it is impossible".

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. He has to keep his job at HuffPo, if you know what I mean. (nt)

[Greyhound]

15. Well golly, hes on the TeeVee a lot so he must know what he's talking about.

:dunce:

[DRoseDARs]

17. Folks, you can hear the exact words he said come out of his mouth if you watch the video:

Sorry, but I've no idea how to embed this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann/#35489146
Video segment is 4m44s long

He's talking about the procedural votes requiring 60 votes to overcome the WATBlican senators. The final vote would only need 51. Lawrence O'Donnell "was the Democratic Chief of Staff of the United States Senate Committee on Finance from 1993 through 1995" so it's safe to assume he might know what he's talking about seeing as it was his job as a go-between dealing with other peoples' bullshit behind the scenes.

[ChicagoSuz219]

18. He also wrote West Wing for the last 4 years, or so... n/t

[ChicagoSuz219]

19. It is my understanding...

...that Reconciliation only applies to budget-related items. I could be wrong. The President's re-writing it. I suppose that Bill could pass with 51, then the extra stuff could be tabled 'til they debate it to death &/or get 60.

[laughingliberal]

23. They are currently only talking about creating a public option under reconciliation

not the whole bill. That does impact the budget and can be done.

[NYC_SKP]

21. In case anyone is wondering, the OP is no longer with us.

Busy bee.

Some interesting posts.

Now gone.

[Forkboy]

22. My guess was a zombie, not a newbie.