Reconciliation

It might be a blessing in disguise for conservatives if Congressional leaders decide to push through this health care bill with 51 votes via reconciliation. This would undoubdtedly set a precedent for ending the practice of the Senate filibuster. During the Republican majorities from 2000-2006, the filibuster or threat of one hindered conservatives from gaining any substantial legislative victories. Reforming Social Security and Medicare, instituting a school voucher program, and simplifying the tax code which had been conservative talking points in the 2000 election all fell by the wayside and were not attempted. It seems that perhaps the only way to really reform government is to allow one party to pass major pieces of meaningful legislation and then let the chips fall where they may every two years.

My legislative priorities would be:
1. To begin a gradual transformation in the educational system by expanding charter schools, giving parents more choices of where to send their children to school, and providing them with tax credits or vouchers if they choose to send them to a private school.
2. To greatly reduce the federal budget deficit, which will require eliminating large layers of bureaucracy, and reforming the entitlement programs.
3. If the health care package legislation is passed, it could be used as a vehicle to gradually eliminate the practice of abortion in this country with the Stupak amendment. If the health insurance providers all participate in the program, they should be restricted from providing coverage for elective abortions. If one is required to pay out-of-pocket for an abortion, perhaps this will encourage one to make the decision to carry the baby to term and give it up for adoption. In conjunction with this, regulations for adoptions should be streamlined allowing more couples to pursue this path and not worry about affordability. Further, greater support should be offered to help a woman carry her baby to term.

These changes to our system are not possible with the current 60 vote threshold in the Senate. Currently, liberals from the West Coast and Northeast can simply block every piece of meaningful reform conservatives might offer. If the Republican majorities in Congress in 2004-2006 couldn't open up a small piece of land in Alaska for oil drilling, they really can't expect to get down to the business of reforming our government in a meaningful way unless the 60 vote threshold in the Senate is weakened or even better, abandoned.

Let Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi push health care through via reconciliation and watch what happens to their majorities in the midterms. This will be all the precedent necessary for the Republicans to develop a strong legislative agenda of reform that has a real shot of being implemented.