Dems considering 'fast track' for Obama legislation

From Ted Barrett
CNN Congressional Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) - In a sign that Senate Democrats may be close to adopting a special budget procedure to speed passage of President Barack Obama's health care and global warming legislation, a key Democratic senator said Tuesday that he is not ruling out using the controversial method.

"It could happen," said Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Montana, despite his repeated concerns that doing so would damage bipartisan cooperation in the Senate.

The fast-track procedure - called "reconciliation" - would prevent Republicans from filibustering the health care and global warming bills, which Baucus's committee helps write.

"Reconciliation is not my first choice. It's not my second choice," Baucus said, but then added, "I'm not flat opposed to it either."