Robert Bixby Reconciliation is underway in Washington, but not necessarily in the way most people understand that term. In the dictionary sense, reconciliation means “the restoration of friendly relations.” That’s certainly not happening. An alternative definition of reconciliation is “the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.” Not much happening in that regard either. The reconciliation taking place in Washington is actually a special budget process that allows a bill to bypass the 60-vote hurdle needed to overcome a filibuster in the Senate and pass with a simple majority vote. Using this process improves the chances of President Biden getting much of his $1.9 trillion COVID relief proposals passed without needing to negotiate for Republican support. If all 50 Democrats stick together, and there is no need for Republican support, Vice President Harris would be able to cast the tie-breaking vote in her capacity as the Senate’s presiding officer.