Reply #2: Looks like Conrad was called on it this am, and again claims

[babylonsister]

reconciliation won't work. x(

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/conrad-healthcare-just-too-pricey-now-to-make-it-2009-08-23.html

snip//

Both senators also talked down the prospects of using budget reconciliation to bypass Senate rules on a filibuster, and pass healthcare reform with a simple majority, instead of the usual 60 votes needed to end a filibuster.

"It's an option, it's available. But as I've argued for many months, it does not work very well," Conrad said, worrying that using budget rules to pass the bill would result in incomplete legislation.

Grassley cast aspersions toward reconciliation as only increasing partisan rancor on the issue.

"If you have reconciliation, it's a partisan approach," he said. "This is such an important issue... It ought to be done on a broad, bipartisan basis."