PhRMA urges “regular order” for health reform

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is urging Congress to avoid passing health care reform as part of the budget reconciliation process. Taking up reform through reconciliation would allow the Senate to clear it with 51 votes, as opposed to the filibuster-breaking 60 votes. Both chambers passed the budget blueprint on April 2; the Senate version does not allow for health care reform and other measures to be taken up in reconciliation, while the House version does. PhRMA's statement said: "To help keep the bipartisan spirit alive, PhRMA urges the budget conferees to pursue a process of regular order for health care reform so that members on both sides of the aisle can continue to have an open and constructive debate about important health care reform policy changes. In addition, we believe that pursuing health reform through reconciliation would preclude Congress from considering a number of critical reforms that fall outside the scope of a reconciliation bill.