Reconciliation is the only path to defunding abortion providers again

Congressional budget reconciliation proved an effective vehicle to achieve a first-of-its-kind victory for taxpayers in restricting the eligibility of large abortion providers to receive Medicaid reimbursements. Even so, these defunding provisions are set to expire July 4 if House Republicans do not commit to a second reconciliation.

Leadership on Capitol Hill is limited to reconciliation as the sole path to further defunding, at least for now. The House may be able to pass defunding-focused legislation, but the same cannot be said of the Senate. Under Senate rules, 60 votes are needed to invoke cloture, ending the debate and bringing the bill forward to a vote. While a simple majority would then be enough to pass the bill following cloture, it is not enough to make the bill viable.

Reconciliation, however, is an exception. Falling under the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act, debate on reconciliation bills is limited to 20 hours before being forced to a simple majority vote. There is no opportunity to filibuster a reconciliation to death, and, with a Republican majority, Democrats were unable