So Now It's Something Else

Reconciliation is a part of the federal budget process in which debate in the Senate is limited and only a simple majority of 51 votes is needed to pass a bill.  Democrats hope to use the limited debate and lower threshold of 51 votes for passage to avoid a Republican filibuster. Under normal circumstances, the opposition can stop a bill with a filibuster.  Only when the bills from each chamber match can President Obama sign health care reform into law.