Clearing up some questions: If the Democrats let nine on-the-fence senators drop off from Obamacare for political reasons, they will, of course, be left with 50 votes — not enough to pass the bill via reconciliation. So, they’ll need Vice President Biden to break the tie. Biden, however, does not have any special role in overruling the parliamentarian. Rather, whatever senator is in the chair can overrule the parliamentarian as a “ruling of the chair.” If a senator objects, then a simple majority can overrule the objection.