Apparently there are two types of reconciliation - (1) reconciliation instruction and a (2) reconciliation bill. I looked through my 9th edition of The American Legislative Process: Congress and the States by William J. Keefe and Morris S. Ogul, 1997 for an answer to my query, but was disappointed to find that it didn't have anything readily available on this legislative process.

According to Wikipedia, reconciliation is a legislative process...intended to allow a contentious budget bill to be considered without being subject to filibuster. It - reconciliation - limits debate and amendment, which empowers the majority party. If you have seen the Democrats - the majority since 2006 - you would think that they would use a process that empowers them. However, they are not so effective. I'm trying to figure out if they are ever going to be effective again. To date, they've not done much with their majority in both houses of Congress.

Sen. Sanders is at odds with the majority because they've already decided that reconciliation is off the table. He also introduced the first single-payer legislation via amendment yesterday and the Republicans thwarted his efforts with a childish tactic. You can see his reaction on youtube.

"At the end of the day - not this year, not next year, but sometime in the future - this country will come to understand that if we are going to provide comprehensive quality care to all of our people, the only way we will do that is through a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system, and I am glad to be able to start that debate by offering this amendment." Sen. Bernie Sanders, news release, 12/15/09.