New Hampshire Republican senator Judd Gregg has sent a memo to his co-partisans outlining the tools the minority can use to impede passage of Harry Reid's health care bill. From the memo:
I think that we can all agree that the Democrats' bill is the wrong choice for our nation. It will impact one-sixth of our economy, vastly grow the government, and pile tremendous debt on future generations. We are at an important crossroads both for the economy and for the health care system. Therefore, it is imperative that our voices are heard during this debate. We, the minority party, must use the tools we have under Senate rules to insist on a full, complete and fully informed debate on the health care legislation - as well as all legislation - coming before the Senate. As laid out in the attached document, we have certain rights before measures are considered on the floor as well as certain rights during the actual consideration of measures. Every Republican senator should be familiar with the scope of these rights, which serve to protect our ability to speak on behalf of the millions of Americans who depend on us to be their voice during this historic debate.
David Herszenhorn reports that the Senate Republican leadership has tasked Gregg to come up with a strategy if Reid opts for the reconciliation process. Step one: Run for the hills! On health care and budgetary issues, Gregg is a major GOP player. My question: What on earth was he thinking when he toyed with becoming Obama's secretary of commerce earlier this year?