4 ms·

The Republicans control congress and the presidency. With some exceptions, Republicans don't need a single Democratic vote to pass legislation.

mikeash 9y ago
Most legislation needs 60 votes to pass the Senate, which means you need at least 8 Democrats (counting the two independents with them). Legislation which Republicans can pass by themselves is the exception, not the rule. One of the problems they had with their health care bill was that it had to fit into the narrow budget reconciliation rules so that they could pass it with a simple majority.
- allemagne 9y ago
  Yes, a hurdle that Republicans already jumped over for the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch and don't need a single Democratic vote to do so again.
  - mikeash 9y ago
    Confirmations are quite different from legislation. Most confirmations had already been reduced to only requiring a simple majority. Supreme Court was the only remaining position for which a confirmation still required 60 votes. There doesn't appear to be any movement toward changing the rules for legislation. If they were willing to do that, they wouldn't have tried so hard to squeeze the AHCA under the budget reconciliation umbrella.
    - allemagne 9y ago
      Sure. They can change the rules for legislation in much the same way they were willing to do so for Supreme Court nominations, and do it without Democrats. That confirmation rules are the same as legislation, or that Republicans were willing to use this option is obviously not what I was trying to say.
sorokod 9y ago
Don't think it's accurate to say that the Republicans (or indeed anyone else) controls the presidency
- allemagne 9y ago
  Well, the President is the member of the Republicans that is meant to control the presidency. If that Republican cannot control himself then I don't think the rest of the Republicans would have any Democratic obstruction to worry about if they wanted to replace him with someone who does.

mikeash 9y ago

Most legislation needs 60 votes to pass the Senate, which means you need at least 8 Democrats (counting the two independents with them). Legislation which Republicans can pass by themselves is the exception, not the rule. One of the problems they had with their health care bill was that it had to fit into the narrow budget reconciliation rules so that they could pass it with a simple majority.

allemagne 9y ago
Yes, a hurdle that Republicans already jumped over for the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch and don't need a single Democratic vote to do so again.
- mikeash 9y ago
  Confirmations are quite different from legislation. Most confirmations had already been reduced to only requiring a simple majority. Supreme Court was the only remaining position for which a confirmation still required 60 votes. There doesn't appear to be any movement toward changing the rules for legislation. If they were willing to do that, they wouldn't have tried so hard to squeeze the AHCA under the budget reconciliation umbrella.
  - allemagne 9y ago
    Sure. They can change the rules for legislation in much the same way they were willing to do so for Supreme Court nominations, and do it without Democrats. That confirmation rules are the same as legislation, or that Republicans were willing to use this option is obviously not what I was trying to say.

sorokod 9y ago

Don't think it's accurate to say that the Republicans (or indeed anyone else) controls the presidency

allemagne 9y ago
Well, the President is the member of the Republicans that is meant to control the presidency. If that Republican cannot control himself then I don't think the rest of the Republicans would have any Democratic obstruction to worry about if they wanted to replace him with someone who does.