GOP Health Bill Only Needs Majority Under Reconciliation

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough on Wednesday said the GOP-crafted House healthcare bill sent to the Senate qualifies as a budget reconciliation bill, which means Republicans can pass the measure with a simple majority vote, Roll Call reported.

All portions of the legislation must have a direct budgetary impact in order to qualify as a reconciliation bill. The parliamentarian makes that call and can tell senators what can be voted on with a simple majority versus what requires a supermajority.

"She sets the guardrails for how the Senate can proceed," said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University. "She's the interpreter of what they've done in the past."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to unveil a revised bill Thursday and bring it to the floor for debate next week. MacDonough's opinion dealt a major blow for Democrats, since budget reconciliation rules would prevent a filibuster.

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