Reconciliation process

President Obama is trying to slip his proposed cap-and-trade policy into the reconciliation process.

The reconciliation process is designed to permit quick action on financial measures, in the vote on the compromise (or reconciliation) of the House and Senate versions of a bill. There are some rules ... it's supposed to only be used in cases where the economic impact to the U.S. is positive (reduction in spending, or increase in revenue.) However, debate is limited, and no filibuster is permitted. That makes items submitted through the reconciliation process difficult to stop.

This was the path used by President Bush to push his tax cuts through Congress.

The use of this procedural device to avoid fully vetting and debating something of this magnitude is underhanded and wrong. This is not the bi-partisan, transparent government the voters thought they were getting!