From yesterday's NYT, this chart about the use of reconciliation since 1980 is extremely useful and I recommend it highly.
*This chart says it's been used 15 times since 1980.
* Republicans have instigated 9.5 of those times, a clear majority (I'd say 10 times -- the authors here describe the 2001 Senate as divided, which is true because it changed control halfway through, but the bill in question -- Bush's first round of tax cuts -- was obviously a Republican bill, and reconciliation in that case was obviously the strategy of Republicans. So R's instigated this procedure they're now calling unfair two-thirds of the time.
*Pace Kent Conrad (see yesterday's post), the procedure has generally been invoked to reduce the deficit -- 12 out of 15 times. The three exceptions? All led by Republicans, all relating to Bush tax cuts that increased the deficit.
So remember, the important point is this: it's not just that Republicans have used the procedure, it's that they used it to pass measures that everyone knew would increase the deficit because they didn't even gesture toward paying for the tax cuts. So they're being double-hypocrites now.
And before 50 of you write posts about how healthcare reform is going to blow the deficit wide open: yes, deficit reduction will depend to some extent on the fiscal prudence of future congresses, which is risky (it's not a total joke, but it is a risk). That said, the CBO has found that the Senate bill will cut the deficit. That's the estimate we rely on. If you have a beef with that, take it to the CBO, not me.
