In Push For Health Reform, Obama To Green-Light Reconciliation Strategy

In a speech this Wednesday, President Obama is expected to rally Congress to pass healthcare reform bill through the Senate's reconciliation process.

AFP (3/2) notes that "this...would require the House to pass the Senate bill," and "the Senate to vote on a revised version of the legislation after the House has a chance to make changes to it."

The New York Times (3/2) reports the President "will begin" his "climactic push to rally restive Congressional Democrats to pass major healthcare legislation by hammering the argument that the costs of failure will be higher insurance premiums and lost coverage for individuals and businesses." White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel tells the Times "Obama on Wednesday 'will talk about the merits of the legislation, mainly about the costs of doing nothing versus the cost of doing something and what this will accomplish.'"

The Wall Street Journal (3/2) reports that a White House official indicated that Obama will not specifically refer to "reconciliation" in his remarks, even as he endorses the strategy that will include that procedure.

The Journal includes a quote from House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), who says, "Trying to jam their latest job-killing back-room deal through Congress using this procedural trick would be a serious mistake." However, the Journal adds that reconciliation has been utilized in the past to approve healthcare bills -- such as SCHIP and the COBRA law.