Unexpected budget consequences

tater · 07-15-10, 11:59 AM

Deathly afraid of the elections this fall, the Democrats in COngress submitted no budget at all for this year since they'd then be on record voting to massively increase the deficit and national debt (since they assume the electorate are idiots). Instead, they "deemed" a budget enforcement resolution passed.

Functionally, this is little different, they just get to cheat their way out of being on the record. It does, however, have consequences for the Democrats aside from looking like the trickery it is. When bills are passed in the Senate and House, they are different, and they become one law (or one budget) via "reconciliation."

Senate rules require that in order to use reconciliation, it must have also been written into the law the previous year.

This means that next year it will be virtually impossible for the dems to pass any budget related stuff even assuming they retain control of congress. They likely will, but by a narrower majority (the most likely outcome)—any narrowing will make it virtually impossible as they usually require picking off a few (lousy) New England Republicans like Snowe.

Gonna be interesting.

07-15-10, 11:59 AM	#1
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	Unexpected budget consequences Deathly afraid of the elections this fall, the Democrats in COngress submitted no budget at all for this year since they'd then be on record voting to massively increase the deficit and national debt (since they assume the electorate are idiots). Instead, they "deemed" a budget enforcement resolution passed. Functionally, this is little different, they just get to cheat their way out of being on the record. It does, however, have consequences for the Democrats aside from looking like the trickery it is. When bills are passed in the Senate and House, they are different, and they become one law (or one budget) via "reconciliation." Senate rules require that in order to use reconciliation, it must have also been written into the law the previous year. This means that next year it will be virtually impossible for the dems to pass any budget related stuff even assuming they retain control of congress. They likely will, but by a narrower majority (the most likely outcome)—any narrowing will make it virtually impossible as they usually require picking off a few (lousy) New England Republicans like Snowe. Gonna be interesting.