Nevertheless, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., vowed to move forward on the reconciliation approach sending a letter to McConnell Thursday announcing his intentions.

“Many Republicans have spent the past year mischaracterizing the health reform bill and misleading the public,” Reid said. “Though we have tried to engage in a serious discussion, our efforts have been met by repeatedly debunked myths and outright lies.”

He added, “We will finish the job. . . We will do so by revising individual elements of the bills both Houses of Congress passed last year, and we plan to use the regular budget reconciliation process that the Republican caucus has used many times.”