Senate Democrats Willing to Bypass GOP on Health Bill

By PATRICK YOEST
WSJ

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats won't hesitate to forgo bipartisanship to pass a health-overhaul bill if negotiations fail in the next month, Sen. Charles Schumer said Monday.

The New York Democrat, on a conference call with reporters, indicated that Democratic leaders are actively exploring options to pass the health bill that wouldn't require Republican votes. He pointed specifically to budget reconciliation, a parliamentary tactic that would allow passage of a bill with a simple majority, rather than the 60 votes generally required in the Senate.

Reconciliation is "clearly one of the contingencies on the table," Mr. Schumer said. "We want to get a bipartisan agreement, but if we don't, it's not going to stop us from moving forward with health care."

Mr. Schumer reiterated a Sept. 15 deadline to reach agreement on a bill within the Senate Finance Committee. He emphasized that the deadline was generated by that committee's chairman, Democrat Max Baucus of Montana, rather than from Democratic leaders.

Three Republican members of the panel -- Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Olympia Snowe of Maine -- are engaged in talks on the bill. While Republicans such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have derided Democrats' attempts to pass a major health-care bill, the three Republicans involved in negotiations still appear interested in reaching a compromise.

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