As a former senior staffer and creature of the U.S. House, I take no pleasure in pointing out that it holds an inflated view of its role in the reconciliation process.

This isn't a knee-jerk reaction to recent media reports suggesting that the Senate merely needs to “take” what the House does and pass it. Rather, it is a reflection of the statutory framework that governs budget reconciliation in Congress.

Reconciliation, as it operates in the House, exists to originate a revenue measure that maintains procedural privilege in the Senate. Its purpose is not to secure the House’s wish list at the expense of Senate priorities, or even the very privilege........

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