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Stonehedge

The rules are pretty clear. EIther stick to the rules or change them. The senate should not just be able to dodge them.

The Byrd Rule, named for Senator Robert Byrd, was adopted in 1985 and amended in 1990.[10] The Byrd Rule defines a provision to be "extraneous"—and therefore ineligible for reconciliation—in six cases:[2]

If it does not produce a change in outlays or revenues;
If it produces an outlay increase or revenue decrease when the instructed committee is not in compliance with its instructions;
If it is outside the jurisdiction of the committee that submitted the title or provision for inclusion in the reconciliation measure;
If it produces a change in outlays or revenues which is merely incidental to the non-budgetary components of the provision;
If it would increase the deficit for a fiscal year beyond those covered by the reconciliation measure (usually a period of ten years);[c] or
If it recommends changes in Social Security.

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Eejit in reply to @Stonehedge

lol the byrd rule was only invented because of the misuse of the filibuster. Which itself is a made up bit of nonsense which was never intended to ensure that all legislation ever would require a super majority.

None of these rules are actual rules, they’re not part of the constitution. The parliamentarian’s advice is literally that - it’s advice. It’s non-binding. Ok, no one has ignored it in relation to reconciliation before, but who gives a fuck? What’s more important? Upholding a dumb procedural norm, or making sure people have enough money to live their lives? If you’re a Dem senator, the former.

And ok, maybe you’re right, maybe they shouldn’t push this via reconciliation. But they have the votes in the senate to just end the filibuster, and then pass this with a normal majority. But, again, they won’t do that because dumb norms are more important than actual people.

I mean, I get it, munchkin and sinema aren’t going to vote for an increase in minimum wage, they don’t have the votes for it and they want a way out that doesn’t make them look like losers, but either way you cut it it is cowardice.

Ezra Klein has a good article on the stupidity of senate rules up at the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/opinion/democrats-senate-reconciliation.html#click=https://t.co/SN8RC2lZvn

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