GOP Vows to Stall Health Care Vote

Democrats want to get the health care bill passed by Easter, but that could be impossible given the enormous procedural complexity of the task—and the unyielding Republican opposition. Though the reconciliation process allows the Senate to pass the bill with a simple majority, it still gives Republicans plenty of opportunities to chuck monkey wrenches, and they’ve pledged to use all of them, the Washington Post reports.

Republicans can offer an unlimited number of amendments, and challenge any provision without a clear impact on the budget. “We’re going to scrub the bill thoroughly,” promises Mitch McConnell. Democrats themselves haven’t yet agreed on the full content of the reconciliation measure, which will have to be crafted so that it cuts at least $1 billion off the deficit over the next five years. (More health care reform stories.)