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This is part two of a crash course on the reconciliation process and how it might be used this fall for health care reform.

The House passed the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill last Friday on a largely party-line 219-212 vote. The New York Times editorial board now urges the Senate both to strengthen and pass the House-passed bill. But the Senate is right of the House on climate, so the choice will be to strengthen or pass a bill. Senate passage would require “weakening” the bill from the standpoint of a cap-and-trade advocate. This legislative situation provides me with a great teaching opportunity about the hard choices of practical legislating.

I want to propose a four-part test for measuring any particular bill on health care cost control. short run long run Federal deficit 1 2 Government health care spending X 3 Private health care spending X 4 In each case, I will define the test so that “yes” is a good outcome: Test 1:  The [...]

I had missed this from the President’s remarks to Congress on February 24th: This budget builds on these reforms.  It includes a historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform – a down-payment on the principle that we must have quality, affordable health care for every American. Budget Director Peter Orszag repeated the “down payment” language [...]

Critical policy fights sometimes happen long before a bill comes up for a vote.  Legislative process and strategy intersect early to determine the balance of power for a future vote on policy.  Health care legislation is several months away from a floor vote, but the tactical maneuvering has already begun. Fair warning:  we’re going to [...]

In part one of this series I reviewed some background and long-term problems facing the U.S. auto manufacturers.  I pointed out that General Motors and Chrysler, and the Obama Administration, face a more immediate cash flow problem.  The Obama Administration is in the midst of rolling out the President’s new game plan.  I’d like to [...]

At Tuesday evening’s press conference, Jake Tapper, Senior White House Correspondent at ABC News, asked the President: Q      Thank you, Mr. President.  Right now on Capitol Hill Senate Democrats are writing a budget and, according to press accounts and their own statements, they’re not including the middle-class tax cut that you include in the stimulus; [...]