By JONATHAN WEISMAN and NAFTALI BENDAVID
Senator Harry Reid tells America that he doesn’t have to follow the rules
The White House and Senate Democratic leaders,seeing little chance of bipartisan support for their health-care overhaul,are considering a strategy shift that would break the legislation into two parts and pass the most expensive provisions solely with Democratic votes.
The idea is the latest effort by Democrats to escape the morass caused by delays in Congress,as well as voter discontent crystallized in angry town-hall meetings. Polls suggest the overhaul plans are losing public support,giving Republicans less incentive to go along.
Democrats hope a split-the-bill plan would speed up a vote and help President Barack Obama meet his goal of getting a final measure by year’s end.
Senators on the Finance Committee are pushing ahead with talks on a bipartisan bill. Democratic leaders say they hope those talks succeed but increasingly are preparing for the possibility that they do not.
Most legislation in the Senate requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster,but certain budget-related measures can pass with 51 votes through a parliamentary maneuver called reconciliation.