In Case You're Just Tuning In [Robert Costa]
There are a few things you need to know about tonight's vote and what it means.
— One, Obamacare (in the form of a cloture vote on Senate majority leader Harry Reid's bill) needs 60 votes tonight to be eligible for a final Senate-floor debate. Tonight's vote, in other words, is the last procedural roadblock for Democrats as they push to bring their health-care bill to its final legislative stage.
— Two, if Reid does get his 60 votes tonight, and the bill moves to the floor, it's a big win for Democrats — if but for a moment. The Senate would then go on Thanksgiving break and come back to start the final health-care debate on Monday, November 30th.
— Three, if the bill moves to the floor for a final debate, that debate could stretch on for a long time. Why? Reid will need 60 votes to end the final debate. However, Reid does not need 60 to pass the bill. He only needs 51 for that.
Think of it like this: tonight's vote to move the bill to the floor needs 60 to pass. Then, to end the debate on the bill once it's on the floor and move to a final vote, Reid needs 60 votes again. If he can clear these two hurdles, the bill will come to a final vote in the Senate, where it needs 51 votes to pass. Even if it passes in say early 2010, then the bill will then head to a conference committee between the House and the Senate, where issues will be hashed out even more before it has any chance of reaching President Obama's desk.
So, it's a long road ahead. Stay with us through the fight.
I wouldn’t be surprised if after getting the 60 votes tonight, the Dems will turn right around and take a vote to end the debate they just voted for, LOL. Then they could pass the bill with 51 and go on Holiday!
Nothing these politicians do surprises me anymore.
I'm aware of the "process" you are describing. I'm also aware that when this POS bill passes tonight, we are one step closer to the final passing of this Disastrous health care reform bill.
You want us to believe the bill will be so muddled down in the quagmire that passing it will be met with one long delay after another? LOL. Obama and his ilk are desperate to ram SOMETHING thru and this is IT!
Although I can appreciate your response, your well thought out words are misplaced when we are dealing with this Administration. Furthermore, the changes will take place wrt health care in the anticipation this Bill WILL go forward in some shape or form. There is no normal anymore.
sw
In Case You're Just Tuning In [Robert Costa]
There are a few things you need to know about tonight's vote and what it means.
— One, Obamacare (in the form of a cloture vote on Senate majority leader Harry Reid's bill) needs 60 votes tonight to be eligible for a final Senate-floor debate. Tonight's vote, in other words, is the last procedural roadblock for Democrats as they push to bring their health-care bill to its final legislative stage.
— Two, if Reid does get his 60 votes tonight, and the bill moves to the floor, it's a big win for Democrats — if but for a moment. The Senate would then go on Thanksgiving break and come back to start the final health-care debate on Monday, November 30th.
— Three, if the bill moves to the floor for a final debate, that debate could stretch on for a long time. Why? Reid will need 60 votes to end the final debate. However, Reid does not need 60 to pass the bill. He only needs 51 for that.
Think of it like this: tonight's vote to move the bill to the floor needs 60 to pass. Then, to end the debate on the bill once it's on the floor and move to a final vote, Reid needs 60 votes again. If he can clear these two hurdles, the bill will come to a final vote in the Senate, where it needs 51 votes to pass. Even if it passes in say early 2010, then the bill will then head to a conference committee between the House and the Senate, where issues will be hashed out even more before it has any chance of reaching President Obama's desk.
So, it's a long road ahead. Stay with us through the fight.