Why Dems Scheduled Xmas Eve Health Care Vote

Momentum, urgency, fear of embarrassment, etc.
By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 21, 2009 11:16 AM CST
Why Dems Scheduled Xmas Eve Health Care Vote
President Barack Obama stands with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.   (AP Photo)

Lamar Alexander has called the Democrats' push to quickly pass health care reform "a political kamikaze mission toward a historic mistake," but Senate Dems have reasons other than self-immolation for scheduling a 7pm vote on Christmas Eve. Politico looks at five:

  • To maintain momentum: If the latest compromise takes a vacation, it could fall apart.

  • And create urgency: Lawmakers make the tough choices when they're stuck between a rock and a hard deadline.
  • To save face: Eight months of "maneuvering" is already "embarrassing" for the White House. Allow the bill to fester into 2010, and Dems can't...
  • Focus on jobs: Obama would really prefer to speak to the economy during his first State of the Union, not the interminable health care debate.
  • Because this isn't the end of the line, anyway: The House and Senate bills will need to be reconciled.
(More health care reform stories.)

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