Next Step for Health Care Reform
On Saturday, November 7, the House passed the 1, 990 page Pelosicare bill with a vote of 220-215. More than 39 Democrats voted with Republicans to oppose the health care overhaul. One Republican voted in favor of the legislation. The next battle in the fight will take place in the Senate.
President Obama is putting the pressure on Democratic leadership to pass healthcare legislation by Christmas. It is now important to shift our focus to our Senators. In order to overcome a likely Republican filibuster, any health care legislation will need 60 votes to pass in the Senate meaning every Democrat or Independent vote is needed. All 40 Republican members of the Senate are expected to vote against the legislation. Several Democrat and Independent Senators have expressed opposition to certain provisions that may be included in a final piece of legislation.
Potential swing voters in the Senate could include: Senator Robert Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania, Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, and Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.
If the Senate bill receives 60 votes, the legislation will move forward to debate. The Senate would then have to have 60 votes again in order to pass a final version of the bill. Any differences between legislation passed in the House and Senate would be worked through in the House-Senate Conference Committee.
Let's continue to get the message to our Senators on health care during these critical next few weeks!
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