Bernie Sanders Does Not Buy The Myth That Reconciliation Would Not Work

Bernie Sanders is not buying the myth that reconciliation would not work for real health care reform.

"If I had my druthers, I think reconciliation is an absolutely appropriate way to go," he said. "I think what people who oppose that will tell you is that you can't have the kind of comprehensive legislation that the Senate is trying to deal with now—and that may in fact be true—but there are a heck of a lot of things that you can do that would strengthen our health care system in a cost-effective way that could be a giant step forward for the American people."

Many Democrats in Washington have worked diligently to cultivate this myth about reconciliation, but Sanders is not buying it. You can pass significant health care reform by using reconciliation. It would probably end up a much better reform package than whatever Liebercare ends up as.

One can only hope that Sanders would learn a lesson from Joe Lieberman. If Sanders demanded they use reconciliation they would have no other choice but you use reconciliation.