Posted on 11/20/2009 4:05:31 PM PST by topfile
Senate Democratic leaders, having negotiated critical last-minute commitments, Friday stood on the verge of achieving the 60 votes they need to begin consideration of the most expansive healthcare legislation to go before the Senate in nearly half a century.
Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, who was among three Democratic holdouts, announced that he would back an all-important procedural vote set for Saturday that will allow the chamber to take up the wide-ranging bill unveiled this week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
And Democratic leaders expect Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana to support a cloture vote on the so-called "motion to proceed," although the two lawmakers have not formally announced their plans
With the backing of those three senators, Democratic leaders are all but assured of clearing the procedural hurdle, a key step if Congress is to send President Obama a healthcare bill by the end of January, as party leaders hope.
-snip-
The rules of the Senate will require Reid to cobble together 60 votes again to end debate on the healthcare bill and bring it up for a final vote, which he hopes to do before Christmas.
Several lawmakers who oppose the government insurance plan, including Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said they would not vote for a bill unless the "public option" provision is removed.
They may back an amendment during the upcoming debate that would create a so-called "trigger." Under such an arrangement, a government plan could only be created in parts of the country where commercial insurers did not meet benchmarks for quality and affordability.
Liberal lawmakers, meanwhile, plan to seek other changes, including more aid to low-income Americans to help them buy health insurance.
(Excerpt) Read more at kfsm.com ...
Thieves in the night.
If all 40 Republicans . . . . wait, what am I talking about? There’s no way the Maine twins and the other three or five liberal Republicans will hold with the real Republicans.
I hope Lieberman has a plan. Maybe Coburn will return to the ledge and demand the bill be read three times, as Senate rules allow, and during that time McConnell can guide enough of the strays back home.
We all know wayward Senators are being bribed. We’ve heard of the $100 million bribe for Landrieu, and we’ll find out about the others.
ive tried for 9 hrs today to get to bayh line busy allllllll day!!!!!! hope its our people calling
How soon will the gov’t take over the Mayo clinic, Shriners childrens’ hospitals, St. Judes and other private hospitals,,shortly after this bill passes I’m betting.
They will play games with us. They will vote “yes” to allow debate in order to keep Reid happy, then vote “no” to keep the locals happy. Meanwhile, Reid will use the nuclear option.
If anyone gets ousted in 2010 or 2012, no problem bro. They will be compensated for services rendered.
This is such a sham! Reid plans to pass the final version by reconciliation which will take only 50 votes. Nelson and Lieberman as well as the others know this. Those that say “Let’s debate the bill”, but say that they will probably vote against the final version are throwing in the towel today. What cowards! Do they think we do not know what is going on? Why watch soap operas? The acting on Capitol Hill these days is unexcelled.
Why did he back down from that to begin with? Sounds like more BS if you ask me!
Buying votes from the whores.
Of all the Dem Senators these two should be busy reading
the tea leaves after our recent election results here in Virginia.
Something I forwarded to other in email that might help!
___________________________________________________
Hey guys, just wanted to send this to you in case your folks are interested in hitting the swing voters in the Senate on Obamacare. We expect a procedural vote in the Senate on Saturday night. The senators on the fence include: Lincoln (AR), Warner (VA), Nelson (NE), Landrieu (LA) and Bayh (IN). Below you will find the email addresses of their chiefs of staff. We are encouraging folks from around the country to email these people and ask them to tell their boss that Americans do not want the Reid healthcare bill to go forward. We do want to see healthcare reform in the form of tort reform and allowing consumers to purchase health insurance across state lines.
elizabeth_burks@lincoln.senate.gov
tim_becker@bennelson.senate.gov
jane_campbell@landrieu.senate.gov
charlie_salem@bayh.senate.gov
________________________________________________
Well it can not hurt to try!
Make note of their names my friends, make note of their names! And vote the SOB’s out of office in 2010. The party of the ‘thieves-in-the-night’ must be destroyed......
Because it’s worked so well all year.
I'm just hear Obama saying "you guys look like a great photo op".
I'm just hear Obama saying "you guys look like a great photo op".
He may not need to.
There. Fixed it.
I think he yielded to whatever the leadership plan is. Maybe McConnell has a plan.
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