The only possible role that I can see for reconciliation would be to make modest changes in the major package to improve affordability, to deal with what share of Medicaid expansion the federal government pays, those kinds of issues, which is the traditional role for reconciliation in health care.

) 61%
Duane Sand (R) 38%


2006

Kent Conrad (D) (inc. Dorgan won the Democratic primary election. He has voted against Republican proposals to repeal the estate and alternative minimum taxes.

Conrad said in a statement that it was more important that "I spend my time and energy trying to focus on solving the nation's budget woes than be distracted by another campaign. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. On January 18 2011 Conrad announced that he would not run for re-election in 2012 but will instead retire.