Democrats Get to 60 Votes for Health Care

Democrats Get to 60 Votes, Health Care Poised to Clear First Senate Hurdle
Source

Ending weeks of speculation, Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) announced Saturday afternoon that they will vote with the Senate's Democratic majority to move forward on the 2,000-plus page health insurance reform bill that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled this week.

Landrieu stressed that her vote to begin discussion of the measure does not ensure her support to pass the bill. "My vote today should in no way be construed as an indication of how I might vote as this debate comes to an end," she said. "After a thorough review, I have decided that there are enough significant reforms and safeguards in this bill to move forward, but more needs to be done."

She also addressed media reports that Reid's bill includes a special provision directing $100 million to Louisiana for Medicaid payments. "I am not going to be defensive about asking for help in this situation," Landrieu said, noting that the bill actually includes $300 million for her state and that Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican, supported the request. "I am proud to have asked for it. I am proud to have fought for it. That is not the reason I am moving to debate."

After Landrieu's announcement, Lincoln declared that she, too, would support Reid on tonight's vote. Had the two senators not gone with the Democrats, the measure would have failed by two votes and Reid would have been forced to modify the language until he could muster enough support to go on.

Like Landrieu, Lincoln said that she wants changes to the bill-- including striking the public option entirely--before she'll vote to pass it. But, she said, "I have concluded that it is more more important to begin debate rather than simply dropping the issue and walk away."

Lincoln has been the subject of intense lobbying by health care reform activists, as well as the target of withering criticism by Republicans preparing a challenge for her Senate seat next year. "I will not allow my decision to be dictated by my political opponents nor by interests from outside of Arkansas," she said.

As the day began, advocates for and against health care reform bill mobilized to influence the outcome of Saturday's vote.

Leaders of the Tea Party Patriots blasted an email to members, urging them to call and fax the offices of 11 targeted Democratic senators, especially Lincoln, to oppose the bill, while the White House released talking points stressing the benefits of the legislation.

Republicans and Democrats spoke throughout the day as the clock ticked toward Saturday's rare evening vote, with tempers clearly worn thin. Republicans cited reports from the Congressional Budget Office and other independent auditors that the bill will raise taxes, raise health insurance premiums, cut Medicare and create hundreds of millions of dollars in unfunded mandates for states.

Reid began the debate by rebuking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who had warned that anyone who votes with Reid tonight will have to explain that decision in their home states.

"Now that is really Orwellian," Reid said. "That is Orwellian. Have a lot of explaining to do if they allow a debate to continue?"

As the Senate slogged through its Saturday session, President Obama headed to Andrews Air Force Base for a round of golf, according to the official White House pool report.

If all 60 Democrats vote as promised, the night will give Reid a much-needed boost of party unity going into what will be a divisive and heated debate on the bill as a whole. The Senate vote is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. Saturday.

Looks like the Dems will get this Healthcare bill passed after all...

What's the rush?


[edit on 19-12-2009 by havok]

Key holdouts in Senate pledge support for health care bill
Source CNN Politics

Washington (CNN) -- Two liberal U.S. senators who had not committed to supporting the health care reform bill said Saturday they will vote "yes."

The holdouts were Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat.

Sanders said he will vote for approval because the measure now contains provisions for new community health centers. Brown said he favored the insurance reforms in the legislation.

Neither of the men is totally pleased, but they told CNN it's a good first step.

Earlier Saturday morning, Sen. Ben Nelson reached an agreement with Democratic leaders that allayed his concerns about abortion funding, he said.

Nelson, a social conservative from Nebraska who opposes abortion, does not want taxpayer funds to pay for that medical procedure. His vote is crucial for Democrats, who want to avoid a GOP filibuster.

Nelson also demanded that states that offer insurance offer at least one plan without the abortion option.

"Change is never easy, but change is what's necessary in America today. That's why I intend to vote for cloture and for health care reform," Nelson told reporters. Cloture, which needs 60 votes to pass, means the Democrats can end debate on the health bill and send it to the Senate floor for a vote.

Nelson warned that if there are changes to the health bill when House and Senate leaders meet to resolve their differences, he will vote against ending the debate. The House has passed a different version of the bill.

Democrats gathered for a rare Saturday session to try to get the needed votes on the health measure.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, who was one of the key senators involved in the talks with Nelson, confirmed that she's satisfied that the language of the agreement achieves its goal.

"My goal was to try to reach some compromise so we could move forward on health care, where the basic premise was we could separate federal funds from private funds. I think we achieved that."

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, agreed, saying the deal follows the principles of the Hyde amendment, which prevents federal funds from being used for abortions.

"Anyone who is in the exchange who also gets a federal subsidy because they're poor, if they choose a private insurance policy and want any kind of abortion coverage, they have to write that part of the premium from their own personal funds," the Florida senator said.

The health bill proposes a health insurance exchange for those unable to afford health coverage or who don't have coverage. No federal funds could be used to cover abortions for people participating in the exchange, the bill says.

...And here's a few more votes. Heck, they might as well ALL vote for it.

I'm yet to see a public option.

Voting is tonite @ 8pm.

According to the New York Times, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska makes the 60th vote:

nytimes.com

Nelson got a sweet little package just for Nebraska written into this BS. So, basically he held out to get what he wanted and proceeded to sell out the rest of the country in the process.

This just has me dumbfounded. All of the moderates were either bought or bullied in those closed door meetings.

I am amazed that none of them are concerned with getting reelected and opted to to sell out. They must know something that we don't. We are facing a major FUBAR situation down the road.

Obama must be Satan because these pukes just sold their souls to him. I guess bribery is only illegal if you are not a politician.

Does anyone know what Obama scored on his golf round at Andrews Air Force Base whilst the Senators sold their honour ?

Maybe in future he could double up with Tiger.

Originally posted by kwisatz
Does anyone know what Obama scored on his golf round at Andrews Air Force Base whilst the Senators sold their honour ?

Maybe in future he could double up with Tiger.

Now, that is an impressive thing to do this time around.

I noticed that quote when reading the article's too. Can't say much thought, it seems all Presidents have taken up golf during Congress sessions.