‘Reconciliation’ – Never Meant For Policy

NOTE: This press release from the Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee is a great description and history of the reconciliation legislative process. It contains FAQs and numerous quotes from Senator Byrd who created the process, as well as other Senators. A great resource. Short sample:

Reconciliation: Not What The Doctor Ordered

Reconciliation is a Fiscal Policy Tool

• Tool to enhance Congress’s ability to change current law to bring spending and revenues in line with levels assumed in budget resolution.
• Reconciliation instructions are numerical targets and are not program-specific.
• Reconciliation allows Congress as a whole to push committees with jurisdiction over direct spending (and taxes) to legislate changes to programs that would otherwise be on automatic pilot to meet the numerical targets included in instructions.
• Reconciliation legislation is considered in the Senate under expedited procedures: debate is limited to 20 hours, non-germane amendments are not in order, a vote is guaranteed and requires only a simple majority to pass.

The Principal Focus of the Reconciliation Process Has Been Deficit Reduction

• In some years reconciliation has involved revenue reduction and spending increases in selected areas.

SOURCE: Sweetness & Light