Sometimes the chambers effect "reconciliation" prior to conference committee per se, so permiting the House majority leader(s) to evoke a Rules Committee motion adopting a "senate version" as delivered to the House for passage prior to pro forma conference committee deliberation.

emphasis added

Yes, conference is to make the bills identical. Greater than "90%" advertised. You know, all summer the House developed H.R. 3200. This fall Baucus released his outline to Finance Committee, Dingell introduce a conforming H.R. 3962 with first cuts into "public option" provisions. House made further emendments to H.R. 3962 during and after the weeks finance committee hearings were broadcast by CSPAN. By the time Reid began the marathon amendment process, MSM was currying factional acrimony over Hyde Amendment funding prohibition, rather than, say, price discrimination allowed in the Baucus bill but prohibited in the House bill.

Remember "the trigger"?

The Rules Committee could deliver the Baucus bill to the floor for a vote, but Pelosi hasn't  support for a legislative dive. Like I said the differences are few but not trivial and bear on restricting Medicaid eligibility, premium subsidy eligibility, tax benefits, and states' establishment of "public option" plans much less committing matching fed funding to expand existing community-rated plans.

Yes, 133% PL more generous than, say, 50% PL Medicaid eligibility in MD for adults. But the Baucus bill minima reams H.R. 3296 financial support for HH incomes greater than that. A whole hell of alot of uninsured people treading the other bottom deciles. Who fights for them? Party leaderships sez no one.

2009-2010 HHS Poverty Guidelines

And when this thing passes "as is", don't expect improvements, corrections, repeals, or finesse anytime soon thereafter.

Obama will ask to freeze a part of govt spending for 3 years beginning in 2011


Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

Did you ever ask, What carve-out a la Nelson might the "teabagger from Massachusetts" negotiate? Since all of Congress awaits his arrival.

Also, "Or we could have a conference bill [i.e. committee emendment of two nearly identical bills] and the democrats might try to defeat a filibuster.
Or the House could kill the Senate bill and there would be no health reform of any description." is a vintage of ultimatum the Bush congress employed to terrorize representatives and constituents.

It's so nice to hear democrats repeating right-wing talking points. It goes to show constituents' discipline when none is needed to enforce a Democratic Party majority in both chambers that's willing to abandon any "public option" to avoid a filibuster threat during a FY budget season.

Oh wait.

That would be confrontational, no?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.