Politico: Process is principle in Washington right now, as parliamentary procedure attorneys "clash" over the legal designations and wording of various bills and provisions in the lead up to an attempt to pass health legislation under filibuster-avoiding reconciliation rules. "High drama" and "historic" vote calls are likely, but for now it's the conclusions that come from "behind-the-scenes conversations" that will be center stage. Whether key provisions, such as a GOP-sought effort on tort reform that Obama insisted on including, meet reconciliation rules are top questions. Experts in both parties agree that a major House change to the Senate's health overhaul - a revision to the "Cadillac" tax on expensive health plans - would meet the rules (Cummings, 3/9).
Roll Call: "Senate Democrats and Republicans are poised to have a knock-down, drag-out fight over the arcane budget reconciliation process and equally esoteric rules as Congress races to pass a health care bill before Easter." Again, Roll Call notes, policy disputes are on the backburner as Republicans accuse Democrats of abusing reconciliation rules and Democrats accuse Republicans of using other Senate rules to obstruct their progress on the health overhaul (Pierce, 3/9).