Saturday, November 21, 2009

UPDATE : Sweeping health care legislation has cleared its first hurdle in the Senate on a party-line vote.

The 60-39 vote clears the way for a historic debate after Thanksgiving on the legislation. The measure is designed to extend coverage to an estimated 31 million Americans who lack it and crack down on insurance industry practices that deny benefits.

The vote came in a rare Saturday session in the Senate.

Democrats posted 60 votes in a Senate showdown, precisely the
number needed to overcome Republican delaying tactics.

The vote was a major victory for Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid, D-Nev., and the White House in a year-end drive to enact the
most sweeping changes to the nation's health care system in a
half-century or more.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE : The Senate has begun voting on whether to move ahead on a sweeping health care bill.

The roll call began with many of the 100 members seated in their chairs and rising to vote. Such formal voting is common with Supreme Court nominations.

Hours earlier, Democratic leaders had sealed the 60 votes necessary to proceed on the legislation, a win for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and the White House. The last two holdouts -- Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana -- said they would vote to advance the bill.

All 40 Republicans are expected to vote "no."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Democrats have hit the magic number of 60 to move ahead on historic health care legislation.

Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln said on the Senate floor that she
will vote with her party, hours before the 8 p.m. EST roll call.

She said it was important that the Senate begin debate on a critical issue.

The centrist Democrat was the lone holdout. Facing unanimous Republican opposition, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needed the
58 Democrats and two independents to vote to move forward on the
sweeping bill to remake the nation's health care system.

Shortly before 1 p.m. EST, another centrist fence-sitter, Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, said she would vote
yes.