Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on
just completed conference call Friday afternoon that health care
legislation would require 60 votes to clear the Senate.
The statement comes as many liberals are pressuring Democrats to
abandon the idea of bipartisanship and use the reconciliation
procedure, which would enable them to pass a health care bill
with a simple majority, while triggering a nuclear war with
Senate Republicans.
During the call, a reporter asked Sebelius why the Obama
administration was talking about bipartisanship when Democrats
have enough votes in Congress to pass whatever they want.
"While the votes may be there because the majority is pretty
hefty in the House of Democratic support, the reality in the
Senate is basically you need 60 votes in order to move
procedurally to a vote on anything," she replied.
