I have a general idea of how the Congressional process works, and I was even an intern on capitol hill some 8-9 years ago. Nevertheless, I have a few questions about the health care reform process I thought some of the wonks on this page might be able to help me with.
Cross-posted on Congress Matters, here.
If people provide good answers, I'll try to post the answers below. Or, if you are really brilliant at this stuff, a separate diary would be awesome, and probably help a lot of us follow this debate.
(1) Why do we care what the Finance Committee does?
Seriously, the HELP committee already passed a bill, so shouldn't that be able to go to the floor for amendments, debate, and a vote? If not, why not? Is it just that we want to give Mr. Baucus a chance to feel good about having his own bill as an alternative? Or, as I think a New York Times article I read earlier this week suggested, do we need to the Finance Committee to sign off if we are going to pay for it? I guess in sum, do we really need to have this go through the Finance Committee?
(2) How does the budget reconciliation process work, and how would it work to get health care through that process?
Is the only downside to passing health care through the reconciliation process that Repubs and moderate Dems would scream bloody murder? Or would it limit the provisions and amendments to the bill? I'm sure someone must have posted/diaried this before. If so, could someone just direct me to a link to that post?
(3) Can Obama keep Congress in session against their will?
There is talk now that Obama might keep Congress in session through part of the August recess? Can he do this, or (what I suspect) would he just lean on Reid and Pelosi to keep them in session? I know I should probably remember this from social studies/civics and as a poli sci major, I'm embarrased to say I don't know this.
ANSWER: YES! Per Gooserock.
Article II
....
Section. 3.
....he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper;...
(4) Is there anything in Senate that is the equivalent to the discharge petition in the House?
In other words, if we really do need the Finance Comm. to agree to a bill to pay for it, is there any way to do an end-around and force the Finance Comm. bill on to the floor for debate?
(5) How will the three House committee bills be considered on the floor?
If all three pass out of their respective committees (I know only one is left in committee) how will the house consider them on the floor? Will they consider each separately, or will parts of one be considered as amendments to another? Any idea how this works?
(6) If the last House bill in committee does NOT get out of committee, is this a problem, or are we fine with the remaining two bills making it to the floor?
This is kind of analogous to question 1, but for the House. I understand that these committees have overlapping jurisdiction (that makes sense) but why do all of them have to pass something out of committee?
Thanks in advance. I know the answers to these questions are out there, but I just haven't seen them, or have been looking in the wrong place, or not reading carefully enough. Just directing me to others who have written about them would be more than appreciated.