WASHINGTON (CNN) - The first crucial showdown over health care reform by the full Senate could come as early as next Tuesday.
That's when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes the chamber will vote to start debate on health care legislation.
Though Reid put the wheels in motion for next week's vote, nothing is guaranteed.
Democrats need 60 votes to pass the motion to start debate. While there are 60 members in the Democrats' coalition, Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat from Nebraska – says he hasn't decided whether he will give his party his vote, and won't until he sees the actual bill.
In fact, no one has seen the senate health care bill yet. Reid won't release the legislation until he knows the cost of the bill. Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, has been waiting nearly three weeks for the non partisan Congressional Budget Office to return its score, or cost, of the bill. Aides to the Senate Majority Leader say they expect the CBO information on the cost of the bill by the end of this week.
Saturday the House of Representatives voted 220 to 215 to pass their version of health care reform. Any legislation that emerges from the full Senate would then have to be reconciled with the House bill.
CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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Everyone in the Senate should be fired for dragging their feet. I have to meet deadlines in my job, not sure why they think they can miss all of theirs. The house is done and moved on, they are still picking their nose.
I like to see the democrats in Congress do something never heard of before like read the entire bill before debating it and trying to ram it down our throats for the sake of pleasing "The One" who is campaigning for 2012 already.
Pass the Health Insurance Bill and end the Insurance Industries exemption of the Antitrust Laws of the USA. We want competition in America!
I think this is wonderful news ! I feel it is very important to get this done before the end of the year, because if we don't the GOP will only use the time next year to conduct more of their so called town hall meetings and waste alot of time...in other words delay..delay .. delay in hopes of killing the bill....So Democrats lest stick together in this historical time and get Health Care passed for of Amercians.. The late Sen Ted Kennedy would be so proud !
I am sick and tired of what the Republilcans want. I am equally sick if not more of the Democrats trying to appease Republicans and conservative Democrats. It's past time for Mr. Obama to play hardball with these obstructionists who clearly care nothing for the people in this country. I'm tired of their lies, tricks, and underhandedness. If t
they refuse to serve the people.it's time for an entire overhaul of these reactionary members of congress, and bring in people who really care abour their constituents.
A perfect example of politicians putting party before the American people. Palosi is on cloud 9 with her victory to push this to the Senate while not handing it over to be read. It just cleared a vote with no body reading the full thing. This is designed to bankrupt the US. We'll soon be sending our taxes to Bejing. BO was made POTUS to do this for the New World Order which needs to eliminate the power of Americans.
And republicans are anxiously geering up to frustrate the bill for their own political benefit and the detriment of the common americans – this will ultimately be their waterloo if they do so!
governemnet run healthcare need to go!!!! honestly, these bills that the house and senate has put together are such a waste of money. please stop the madness and begin doing target changes to ensure more folks are covered and cost is lower. we do not need to throw the baby out with the bath water.
We're watching closely.............anyone who votes for this crappy plan will be voted out. Reid is gone either way. We want real health care reform, not this expensive and destructive plan that will further bankrupt America. Nobody is foolish enough to believe this will reduce the deficit, or that billions can be taken out of Medicare. Where is the truth and transparency promised by this administration?
Even sending Mr. Clinton to the Hil,l will not help. The American people do not want to be mandated by the federal government on health care. The government is trying very hard to justify thier actions, but the American people have spoken and have the power of the voting booth to rid ourselves of those how feel they know better than the American people.
hey all you prolife people be a part of the solution not the problem
if you want to fight the issue do it in the courts like every other american
and by the way every unwanted child in this country should be adopted
by the prolife family, like I said be a part of the solution not the problem
being unwanted is a slow death
Don’t think for a moment Virginia and New Jersey wasn’t a referendum on what’s happening in Washington.
Take heed Washington . . . we’re no longer going to take this taxation without representation.
Move away from the special interest and listen to the taxpayers.
We have no problem increasing the unemployment number by those blinded with power and WeThePeopleofVirginia no longer fear you.
“When the people fear government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” Thomas Jefferson a fellow Virginian.
Vote for this and we will elect you out of office. It is Unconstituttional. Anyone who does vote for this or signs it into law are eligable for articles of impeachment
So, the bill wasn't scored, no one has seen it, they don't know when they are going to vote for it or, if they have enough votes to debate on the bill.
Where exactly is the news in this article?
Kill government run health care! They need to start over and cut the favors to the insurance companies and special interests. Insurance companies will not be compelled to compete across state lines thereby lowering rates and lawyers are a protected class under the current legislation from Nancy Penazi.
Dear Democrats, for the good of our country you should put aside some personal preferences and show us your wisdom, this historic act needs your contribution: get together and let it pass, don't give more satisfaction to the NO-Machine of the other party – they will accept NOTHING, they are hand in hand with the insurance industry and all corrupted by big money.
While I am in favor of the House Bill, I think Congress should really be looking at how the Dutch do healthcare. They have a system primarly on private insurers that are very tightly regulated and where everyone pays the same premiums regardless of sex or risk. The government subsidizes the insurance companies for higher risk patients and there is a mandate that everyone carry insurance. Also, the insurance companies are required to kick in 20% of their profits to help fund the high risk pools.
Seems like that would be an easier and less costly fit for this country. People would still have the choice of insurance plans and with a mandate the premiums would be lower. Everyone would be covered at the same rate. Subsidies could be given to lower income people and I would have to believe it would cost about half of the trillion dollar House bill.
i have two teachers and one of them likes the plan of health care for everybody, but the other has a very strong opinion that it will mess with all the younger people of the nation.so i am really confused what will it effect.
Democrats are such sissies if i were reid i would throw in reconciliation before the gop has time to blink they did it with the infamous bush tax cuts so do it now and let the birthers deathers tea partyers and conservatives scream and shout to high heaven
Some estimates say comprehensive medical malpractice reform could save more than 100 billion a year. Its outrageous that the house bill has no medical malpractice tort reform. The fact that the bill has provisions in it that protect the vermin trial lawyers from any reform that could affect their fees treasonous. One definition of treason is treachery: an act of deliberate betrayal. Pelosi should be tried for treason. How much more will this cost you because the trial lawyers are more important than you.
One word, Democrats: Reconciliation! Enough with all this 60 vote nonsense. When the Republicans wanted to provide the rich with a tax windfall they did not hesitate to use it. Having your political future held hostage by Lieberman or Nelson is death for your party. Find the spine to do what's right and let the chips fall where they may.
And, for god's sake, show some moral character and strip Joe Lieberman of all party seniority. He has be b-slapping this party for too long. Do what’s right. Not what is politically practical.
senority
From Republican to Democrats all are sleeping with insurance co.
I think American people have to say good buy to health care reform in their life time.
there is no democracy in this country only corporate rule.
Pass it. It doesn't matter anyway.
Reversing this law will be the first order of business in a new Conservative Majority House and Senate in January 2011.
How dare Ben Nelson demand to see the bill before voting on it ! This is not the way Congress works ! Getting bills passed is a matter of trading or paying off favors, it has nothing to do with the content of the bill. The American Congress makes the Teamster's Union look like a debating society !
The US Senate has not missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity since 1860. They dither, and meet, and earmark, and go to lunch with lobbyists, and filibuster, and block things, and horse trade, and call back home, and make speeches, and vote on whether to vote on whether to vote, and call the question, and beg the question, and appear on Sunday's news talk shows, and go on vacation, and by god it's election time!
On the plus side, they have found a really good job with great benefits.
The sooner the better. They need to approve the Congress bill.
Will never get the 60 votes so why not just do the 51 vote option and get on with it. Who are they trying to kid here. The Republicans will never support the bill and neither will the Blue Dogs or Lieberman.
So unless they do the 51 vote option no bill will happen until we the people vote in 60 true Democrats in 2010. Or we can continue with gridlock because our elected officials will not come together after any election and do for the people. The Republicans are only concern in having power not in legislating.
"Reid won't release the legislation until he knows the cost of the bill."
I know it rankles that the media that it and its bobbleheads don't have the bill yet so they can pretend to report on it by fantasizing that insane accusations like "death panels" deserve to be treated as though they just might have merit, but seriously, what Reid is doing is the responsible thing to do. Why release a bill if the CBO comes back and says it's way too expensive? Wouldn't it be far more prudent to wait, find out and go back to the drawing board before alarming the public? Yes. Indeed it would. But that's ok, I'll forgive you for reporting about it in a manner designed to get approximately half of us angry...nothing sells like controversy, eh?
The form of the Senate Healthcare Bill is our last chance for developing a bill with purpose and reason instead of ideology and beaurocracy. The example of the disgusting politics with the abortion issue and the sell out to the gentleman in Louisiana in the House came to light John Q Public should smell this bill is a dead fish in newspaper. We need reform directed by the government but not run by the government. You would think that with the rationing and atrocious management in the VA, Medicare and Medicaid people would understand. And trying to convince the gullable public that you can add 45 million to healthcare roles with no additional cost is just fantasy land. Reform yes, additional coverage yes but another layer of beaurocracy over medicaid , medicare and the VA is A WASTE OF MONEY
It's ABOUT TIME!!!!
ENOUGH of this playground talk, take it to the actual place for a decision.
HEALTHCARE is something both parties are stating they want, let's see who has a plan that is actually going to help. Help also requires budget responsibility and programs that satisfy both ideologies on a fair balance but fair basis. It won't be perfect, but a start to a better AMERICA.
Let's GET READY TO RUMBLE......
Wonder if any of them will read the bill?
No, I don't think he's taking too long. He should take other matters into consideration, particularly when it's clear that a pure military solution–throwing more troops in the fray just as Russia did–has not worked before. He should also consider the lessons of Vietnam where Americans won every encounter due to superior troops and firepower, yet lost the battle anyway. Afghanistan is a unique situation that calls for a unique solution.
What Republican will Obama bribe to support it in the Senate? Who says Chicago politics has been cleaned up?
Let me see if I understand how our government is managing this radical change to 1/6th of our economy WHICH WILL impact every American's health care and our childrens' future.
The Senate has not even seen this 2,000 page bill. They have not read it. They will not get it until the end of this week at the earliest, and thetnwill be asked to vote on it 3 days later. And NOBODY yet knows what this might cost. If this is the transparency Obama promised us, no thank you. This approach is reckless, blind, and has less research by our elected officials than ordinary Americans do when they make a $25 purchase - let alone a multil trillion dollar one.
I have two words for Congress and they are not Happy Buirthday – TERM LIMITS
Appears that Harry's collar is getting a bit tight...
General McCrystal has a blemish on his record resulting from his inadequate explanation to Congress regarding his recommendation of the Silver Star to Pat Tillman. Although (a well deserved honor) one clouded with overtones of cover-up as to the circumstance of Tillman's death.
In Wolf Blitzers interview Author Jon Krakauer comments on this incident to a question from Blitzer and wonders if the President should follow McCrystal's advise.
Next week? I guess they gotta give the lobbyists time to prepare. We wouldn't want to pass any legislation without their approval, would we? Have a nice day!
And I am wondering what is the urgency of the health reform bill all of a sudden. Something this important should be gone over and gone over to make sure that everything will benefit the people not the companies, and these people are not doing that, all they want is to pass it no matter whats in it and who its gonna take away from. There should be some things fixed in current health care, but not the way they are doing it. I see the public option and the abortion part always being talked about, what the hell about what they are doing to the seniors, dont they count anymore????? You all will be seniors one day and then you will wish things were done differently. This country has gone to hell real fast when Obama took over. Him and his family are riding high and having the time of their lives at our expense, something is seriously wrong that this great country is allowing this all to go on....
Just pass the bill, that`s all we are saying. Republicans would never doubt their mission and I am pretty sure they`re laughing at democrats behind closed doors.....
Just do it. republicons used to scream about nup or down votes when they had a once vote majority. Let's see them live up t their alleged principles.
It is past time to get this behind us and move on to fixing the other messes republicons made at the beginning of this century.
Put all politics aside, and ask yourself why America is the only industrialized country in the world whose moral compass does not recognize that all of its people should have the right to health care. I guess we are great on liberty and freedom but a little short on the responsibilities that go with them.
We all want some kind of health care reform, so let's get cracking!!!! I bet the Congress has not worked this hard in ages!
ALL I have to say to the Senators, especially the DEMOCRATS is:
45,000 Americans die every year from lack of healthcare.
IF 45,000 Americans were dying each year from terrorist attacks, EVERYONE would want something done to stop the bloodshed! Republicans would be livid! Demanding something be done!
We are ALL devastated when a massacre like the one at Ft. Hood happen. Or when September 11th happened!
WHY ARE WE NOT ...... ALL..... UPSET, FOR THE DEATHS OF 45,000 AMERICAN WHO DIE EVERY YEAR WITHOUT HEALTHCARE?
Some Democrats In The Senate Had Better Start Taking Health Care Serious, And Stop Playing Their Political Games.
Please focus on serious malpractice reform, expanding insurance competition across state lines, training more doctors and nurses, implementing electronic medical record and eliminating pre-existing conditions....do this and you'll get my vote.
If you make the mistake of including a public option, a government option, a government panel, a new tax, a new entitlement program, more deficit spending.....then I will vote against anyone who supports or votes for the bill.
It is simple...think about it.
As a public school teacher, I am a public servant, but not like our elected officials in Washington, D.C. I face not only pay cuts, but also diminished and totally inadequate health care. I have worked in two different Florida counties in the public school system where the health care "option" is the same: one health care insurance plan only – in effect, take it or leave it. In the meantime, my young adult children face no options in a market that offers nothing to those who have been laid off. A public option is the only option acceptible to those of us in the struggling middle class world, as well as for those who are struggling on any part time job they can get to make ends meet, all the while praying they don't get sick.
Wait....nobody has seen the Bill? They're waiting on the cost estimate from the CBO?
Reid is THAT scared of the bill that he won't show it to anyone...What does that tell you?
I wonder how many people will be arrested for not having insurance and sentenced to 5 years in jail.
How many of you Democrats posting on here are willing to pay the 5.2% tax? Regardless of your income.
I mean, let's be fair. You can assume that someone else can afford the tax, let’s assume the same for everyone.
Most of you want this public option, why not pay the tax yourselves along with the top 1%?
1% of Americans will be forced to pay $26000-$50000 at least for YOUR INSURANCE. That’s on top of the 35% income tax and every other tax out there. That is a CRIME!
Do we at least get a holiday for it? A “Rich people pay for health care Day”?
At least the party of "No!" has openly promised to make Obama fail, while the Blue Dogs obviously share that same sentiment, but have not been as vocal.
This healthcare bill is terrible. The government should start regulating the insurance companies and drug companies to make them lower the cost and also to have a lower cost option that can be paid for through a tax credit for all those without insurance and drug coverage.
We cannot allow or representatives in congress to do things as usual anymore....
PUBLIC OPTION is a must. Don't cower to the lunatics!!!!
Even if the bill comes in at Obama's magic number of $900 billion, this is way too expensive for America right now. Unemployment is up to 10% and rising. This bill does nothing to put people back to work and in fact costs American jobs because of the unproductive taxes it will take to pay for it. Have this standoff and kill the legislation.
This monstrosity of a concept for Health Care cannot pass..... it will be the death knell for our economy. Republicans have suggested meaningful, practical, and limited reforms which have fallen on the deaf ears of democrats who want only control and power. Its clear to reasonable minded Americans who is good and who is evil on this issue.....