Reid threatens simple majority health vote

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says he'd like bipartisan support for healthcare reform, but is prepared to use a procedural maneuver to pass it.

Reid said he would prefer to pass healthcare reform through the normal process, which requires 60 votes. However, he said he'd use budget reconciliation, which requires a simple majority, if the legislation bogged down in committee, The Hill reported Tuesday.

The Senate Finance Committee began marking up the mammoth healthcare reform bill Tuesday.

"If we can't work this out to do something within the committee structure, then we'll be forced to do reconciliation," said Nevada Democrat, adding that the procedure would be used as a "last resort."

Reid also outlined the parameters under which the healthcare reform bill would be debated on the floor.

"On reconciliation, under the order, there's only 20 hours of debate," Reid said. "There would be a free amendment process, which would take some time."

He also repeated his threat to ax the weeklong Columbus Day recess beginning Oct. 10, depending on the progress of healthcare reform.

Reid said he hoped to wrap up the fiscal 2010 Interior Department appropriations bill this week, then take up the Pentagon appropriations bill "at the earliest possible date," the Washington publication reported.

Congress likely would have to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government running when the current fiscal year ends Sept. 30 "because we won't be able to complete all of the appropriations bills prior to the end of the month," Reid said.