The single stupidest argument against using reconciliation to pass health care reform is the idea that reconciliation would appear “too partisan.” From CNN: “It looks too partisan,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly, a freshman Democrat from Virginia. Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota likened the move to “legislative trickery.” Let’s leave aside the issue of [...]

A new Research 2000 poll conducted for Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America shows that the American people still overwhelming favor a public option. The poll was conducted in 10 swing districts currently held by Democrats. QUESTION: Would you favor or oppose the national government offering everyone the choice of a government administered [...]

Today’s reports continue to point to the reconciliation sidecar strategy as the preferred option on Capitol Hill for moving forward with health care reform. The strategy requires the House to pass the Senate bill “as is” only after the Senate has passed  measures with several fixes to the Senate bill that can then pass the [...]

Theoretically, this “sidecar reconciliation” could happen quickly in the Senate, since the underlying bill has already passed. The Finance and HELP committees would probably have to approve, and then it could go to the floor for a vote.

None of this, by the way, is a function of what happens to day in Massachusetts. It can — and should — happen regardless of what happens with the Coakley/Brown election in Massachusetts today. The Democrats have a huge perception problem that the health care bill is just the bank bailout extended to the insurance companies, and they need to fix it if they want to turn the ship around before the 2010 elections.