A 60th Vote and the Senate Bill Moves

The process of countering endless lies about health care reform from Rethuglicans, of compromising with political sharks like Joe Lieberliar, and of trying to get just half a loaf of reform out of the process has been painful to watch. The vote late last night/early this morning to impose cloture will allow the bill to come to the Senate floor for a vote, probably Christmas Eve. The Administration is promoting the fact that the Senate legislation would mandate affordable coverage of 30-plus million Americans and eliminate insurance industry gamesmanship on pre-existing conditions and denying benefits simply to maximize their profits. We'll see, as the Senate and House bills go to conference committee to be "merged."

The 60th vote that broke the Rethug threat of filibuster came from none other than conservative Nebraska Democrat Sen. Ben "Ben Dover" Nelson, who extorted some budget goodies for Nebraska and added some slippery language on abortion coverage to win his vote. Profile in statesmanship there, Ben Dover.

Senate Health Reform Bill Unveiling

Later today, Senate Democrats are expected to unveil their health reform bill for debate, which could start as early as this week (pending a procedural vote). Democrats are meeting at 5:00 today to get the results of the Congressional Budget Office's scoring of the bill.

We'll see now if Harry Reid is a master legislator or a legislative masturbator. What kind of public option will there be? How universal the coverage? Other cost savings? Does he have the votes for whatever he's putting forward, at least to get debate started? One strong proponent of the public option, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), isn't so sure there won't be more watering down of the public option to satisfy conservaDems.

UPDATE: At first blush, it looks like "master legislator" is closer to the mark for ol' Harry, though more finessing and reconciliation with the House bill remains. (The bill has a public option with "opt out", would reduce the deficit by $127 billion over 10 years, and cover 94% of the public.) Now if the Dems can just stick to their guns...