From Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican Leader John Boehner:

Senate Democrats Said It Would Be “An Outrage,” “A Nonstarter,” “A Real Mistake,” “Very Ill-Advised,” “The Worst”

REP. JOHN DINGELL (D-MI): “I’m Curious, Why In The Name Of Common Sense Are We Being So Fussy About Having The Decisions In The People’s House And The People's Senate Decided On The Basis Of A Simple Majority. 51 Votes. And If There’s Something Wrong With That I Wish Somebody Would Tell Me.” (Rep. Dingell, Health Care Summit, 2/25/10)

SENATE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THERE IS “SOMETHING WRONG” WITH FORCING HEALTH CARE THROUGH
 SEN. KENT CONRAD (D-ND): “I Don't Believe Reconciliation Was Ever Intended For The Purpose Of Writing This Kind Of Substantive Reform Legislation Such As Health Care Reform.” “I have said publicly and privately what I believe. I don't believe reconciliation was ever intended for the purpose of writing this kind of substantive reform legislation such as health care reform, such as climate change.” (Sen. Conrad, Congressional Record, S.3957, 3/30/09)

SEN. ROBERT BYRD (D-WV): Reconciliation On Healthcare “An Outrage That Must Be Resisted.” “I was one of the authors of the legislation that created the budget ‘reconciliation’ process in 1974, and I am certain that putting health-care reform and climate change legislation on a freight train through Congress is an outrage that must be resisted.” (“The End Of Bipartisanship For Obama’s Big Initiatives?” The Washington Post, 3/22/09)
 
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV): “Reconciliation Is A Nonstarter … It Doesn’t Work. ... It Opens Itself Up To An Endless, Unstoppable Number Of Amendments, Which They Will Have Lined Up, 800 Amendments, Whatever It Is.” (“Rockefeller Dismisses Reconciliation As An Option For Health Care Reform,” Roll Call, 11/17/09)

SEN. BLANCHE LINCOLN (D-AR): “I Will Not Accept Any Last-Minute Efforts To Force Changes To Health Insurance Reform Issues Through Budget Reconciliation, And Neither Will Arkansans.” (“Dem Impasse On Health Bill Continues,” Politico, 1/27/10)

SEN. BYRON DORGAN (D-ND): “We Shouldn't Stretch Reconciliation For … Health Care.” “Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), an appropriator, said today it would be ‘highly unusual’ to use reconciliation for climate change or health care legislation. ‘We shouldn't stretch reconciliation for climate change or health care,’ he said. ‘It would be very hard to justify.’” (“Democratic Senators Not Ready To Embrace Reconciliation,” CongressNow, 3/17/09)
 
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (I-CT): “I Think It's A Real Mistake To Try To Jam Through The Total Health Insurance Reform, Health Care Reform Plan That The Public Is Either Opposed To Or Of Very, Very Passionate Mixed Minds About.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 8/23/09)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “Was Intended For Deficit Reduction, And It Should Not Be Used For Other Things.” (“Why The Democrats Can't Govern,” The New Republic, 4/15/09)

SEN. EVAN BAYH (D-IN): “Very Ill-Advised.” (“Nelson, Bayh Warn Against Reconciliation,” Politico, 1/26/10)

SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “It’s Not A Good Idea.” “‘Reconciliation tends to be partisan,’ Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus said. ‘It's not a good idea.’” (“Dems Resistant To Using Reconciliation For Climate Bill,” Congress Daily AM, 3/11/09)

SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD (D-WI): “It Wasn't Appropriate Then; It Isn't Appropriate Now.” “Reconciliation is intended for legislation that reduces the deficit. I have strongly opposed past efforts to use reconciliation to address policy matters, such as drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It wasn't appropriate then; it isn't appropriate now.” (Sen. Feingold, Congressional Record, S.4289, 4/2/09)

SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D-MO): “Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill Said … She Was ‘Not Open’ To Using The Maneuver For A Comprehensive Fix To The Senate Bill. And regarding the more narrow, two-step process envisioned by Democratic leaders, McCaskill said: ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea.’” (“Dem Impasse On Health Bill Continues,” Politico, 1/27/10)

SEN. TOM HARKIN (D-IA): “That Would Probably Be The Worst Thing We Could Do Right Now because of deadlines and dates, if this were to go to reconciliation now, it would not be written by my committee -- which is a very progressive committee -- it would be written by the Budget committee.” (“Harkin Calls Reconciliation The 'Worst Thing' Liberals Could Want,” The Hill, 11/19/09)

SEN. FRANK LAUTENBERG (D-NJ): “New Jersey Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg, Who Is Not A Member Of The Group, Said That While He Opposes Using Reconciliation As A Vehicle For Healthcare and climate-change legislation, he thinks the centrists will fall in line with the rest of their party when requested.” (“Lincoln, Pryor Pan Speedy Budget Idea Arkansans Warn Against Hastiness,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 3/23/09)

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (D-PA): “That Is Undesirable.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 8/23/09)

SEN. MARK PRYOR (D-AR): “I’m Not Real Wild About Using That Procedure That Way.’” (“Dem Impasse On Health Bill Continues,” Politico, 1/27/10)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “Sen. Ben Nelson, A Democrat, Said Sunday That He Would Vote Against Using A Tactic Called Reconciliation To Push Through A Health Care Bill.” (“Nelson: Bipartisanship A Must,” Omaha World Herald, 9/28/09)
 
Q: “Will You Commit To Supporting Efforts To Bring Up Important Legislation Under Budget Reconciliation Rules Even If Other Moderate Democrats Try To Stop That?” SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “I’ll Tell You, Rachel, The Answer Is Probably No.” (MSNBC, 3/19/09)