Burr: Reconciliation would be a 'grave mistake'

Any attempt by Senate Democrats to use reconciliation to advance healthcare reform would be a "grave mistake," Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said on Tuesday.

"I don't think it's a threat, I think that's what [Majority Leader] Harry Reid (D-Nev.) intends to do," Burr told Fox News. "I think the one miscalculation that Sen. Reid makes is [assuming] that the American people aren't watching and they don't care. Healthcare has been very personal for every American, and I think that's what triggered the large outrage we saw throughout August."

Burr's new, stern warning stems from a statement Reid made earlier in the day to use reconciliation as a "last resort." Although Senate Democrats have long ruminated over the procedural move, Reid's remark is perhaps the most direct and convincing threat to use the party has made to date.

“If we can’t work this out to do something within the committee structure, then we’ll be forced to do reconciliation,” Reid said, adding that lawmakers have long used the tactic "on many, many different issues in recent years.”

Burr, however, disagreed with Reid's rationale. Instead, he explained, reconciliation would jeopardize "the future of the U.S. Senate and the legislation we consider."

"[I]f Sen. Reid chooses to shortcut what I think is the historical protection that we need to make sure exists -- and that's that policy is not considered unless 60 senators agree -- that would be a grave mistake for this bill," Burr said.