Health Care Bill Clears Crucial Senate Test

Dems will be lucky to get it through before xmas

(NEWSER) - The House version of the health bill galloped from introduction to passage in just 10 days, but the Senate's version won't be through until Christmas at the earliest. Suzy Khimm at the New Republic explains the reasons for the snail's pace.

• The Senate has to vote on a “motion to proceed" before the bill hits the floor, and Harry Reid will need his 60 votes in the bag before that happens.

Indy senator promises he'll vote with Dems to end filibuster

(NEWSER) - Forget all the grandstanding about joining a GOP filibuster of health care reform if it contains any kind of public option: Sen. Joe Lieberman won't do it, Harry Reid tells liberal interest groups, who tell the Hill . He has a deal with the Connecticut Independent, the majority leader claims. Lieberman is the likeliest lawmaker outside the Democratic caucus to provide the extra vote needed to shut down a GOP filibuster. More»

'Liberal lion' invoked by both left and right, but what would he think?

(NEWSER) - The memory of Ted Kennedy was a vivid presence today on both sides of the aisle as the Senate passed its version of his signature issue, health care reform. The late Massachusetts senator “remained the Democrats' spiritual floor leader,” Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post , and almost everyone credited him for the success. The tributes didn't sit well with some Republicans. More»

Reid, McConnell move to get people home for Xmas Eve

(NEWSER) - It looks like senators and their staffs will be home for Christmas Eve after all. The final vote on health care legislation has been moved up to 8am Thursday, reports the LA Times . Harry Reid and GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced the move today after a set of procedural votes cleared the Senate with the necessary 60 votes. Republicans could have delayed Thursday's action until 9pm, but McConnell chose not to do so, notes the Post . More»

Critics slam Senate bill's special deals for holdouts

(NEWSER) - A close look at the health bill before the Senate reveals that there was no shortage of pork-barrel spending thrown in to get the Democrats the 60 votes they needed. The "cash-for-cloture" deals include one dubbed the "Louisiana Purchase"—$100 million in Medicare cash for the state. Another one labeled the "Cornhusker Kickback" provides $100 million for holdout Sen. Ben Nelson's Nebraska, the Washington Post reports. Chris Dodd threw in $100 million for a medical center in his state, quickly dubbed the "U Con." And the list goes on. More»