Reid Faces Filibuster From Both Parties on Health

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t. If a spending bill considered by the Senate includes House Republicans’ proposal to defund the new healthcare law, he faces a filibuster from his own Democrats,  Politico reports. But if defunding Obamacare isn’t included in the spending bill, he faces a filibuster from Republicans.

The House-passed spending bill includes nine amendments to prevent allocations for Obamacare.

Reid said Wednesday that any spending agreement shouldn’t include riders, which indicates he will seek an agreement without defunding. But he may have to backtrack.

“Unless there’s some clear deal that I can’t envision right now, I don’t see how they do it,” said Vin Weber, a former House member and now a managing partner at Clark & Weinstock. “No Republican wants to be accused of abandoning the fight against the health care law.”