Reconciliation Not the Answer For Democratic Agenda

In recent days it has been widely discussed that Democrats in Congress may pursue a little used (only a eleven times since 1995) parliamentary tactic to push through their agenda while avoiding the filibuster powers still held by minority Republicans. The move is called reconciliation, and while generally reserved only for budgetary matters, it allows measures to pass the senate with a simple majority, as opposed to the 60 votes usually needed to end debate. Potentially, Democrats could use the move to push health, education, and welfare reforms without as much as a word of input from Republicans.

This is not the post-partisan world we were promised. I doubt that this will happen, or even that Democrats could do it if they wanted to as some moderate Democrats have already balked at the idea. Still, I hope that President Obama knows better than to stoke the fires of partisanship and so carelessly activate a dangerous congressional tactic that could come back to bite Democrats in the rear should Republicans ever recapture Congress.