Reply #33: 60 votes needed on procedural vote to break the filibuster, then only 51 votes needed to pass it. [View All]

[Lord Helmet]

Frank: Public option doesn't need 60 votes*
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/63481-frank-public-option-doesnt-need-60-votes
By Eric Zimmermann

The public option doesn't necessarily need 60 votes to pass, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) reminded us this week.

The Senate requires 60 votes to end debate and proceed to vote on a bill, but only a simple majority to actually pass.

"It is conceivable that some Democrats, for example, would vote to break the filiubuster who would then vote against the bill," Frank told Joy Behar on Headline News. "There may be some Democrats willing to do that."

So is that a conceivable scenario?

Based on this interview with Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), the answer seems to be yes.

Asked whether any Democrats would vote to uphold a filibuster, Pryor seemed skeptical.

"I don’t want to say no, there's no chance, because something could be added that could just be completely objectionable," he said. "But I don’t think you’ll see me or any other Democrats do that."

"The simple fact is that they had the votes, they simply didn't want a public option. No amount of blue links here will change this history. And the people that keep repeating this lie either weren't paying attention, don't remember the process from a year and a half ago, or they are outright lying hoping nobody will notice." = bullshit