Time has published a profile of Alan Frumin, the Senate parliamentarian, who will suddenly become The Most Important Man in the World if/when the Democrats pursue health care reform through reconciliation. Using reconciliation, the majority can pass legislation with only 51 votes as opposed to the filibuster-proof supermajority otherwise needed. Anything passed under reconciliation rules, however, must be deemed relevant to the underlying budget by the parliamentarian. Enter Frumin.
The bottom line: he makes $170,000 per year, Harry Reid is probably going to fire him at some point, and Tom Coburn is going to make his life a living hell.
