From CNN:
The Senate has passed an $871 billion health care reform bill.
Senators voted 60-39 shortly after 7 a.m. to pass the bill, the centerpiece of President Obama’s domestic agenda. Every member of the Democratic caucus backed the measure; every Republican opposed it.
I certainly hope our Democratic representatives take to heart the level of “cooperation” they got from the GOP after gutting the bill and selling out a HUGE number of solidly blue supporters in a misguided attempt to address GOP “concerns.”
In any case, the train has left the station.
Please share widely!
Aren’t all 100 seats filled at the moment?
I think he missed another vote previous.
Jim Bunning [R-KY]. Obviously retiring enables one to stop giving a you-know-what about the most important vote of his life. Even if it was against the legislation.
The Senator had family commitments.
They didn’t need 41, the Democrats needed 60. I certainly would have stayed in bed.
…on this morning’s vote the Democrats only needed 51 (or 50 plus Biden, who actually did his constitutional duty this morning). The procedurals requiring 60 had already been dispensed with. I’m sure most Senators wanted to “show the flag” even if the result were a foregone conclusion.
Insistence on getting the facts right.
Can anyone find video of the RC for final passage? I would love to hear Senator Byrd’s vote!
and then changed his vote as the chamber erupted in laughter.
I watched the roll call on CSPAN this morning and heard the laughter after he voted, but didn’t hear what he said to provoke it. I figured it was something like, “What do you think?”
Just very ironic with him being the leader of the bill.
Where were you when America died.
Nothing left to do but stop filing tax returns.
Oh, and I did have to buy insurance but Martha Coakley sued them, now I have none.
First, the bill still has to come out of compromise. Second, we will be taking Congress back soon and maybe we can mitigate the burdensome costs that will hit the government because you KNOW they will NEVER cut Medicare. This bill will be a spending jamboree!!!!
After the bill comes out of conference, I believe the House and Senate both must vote on it again. Will the Senate need 60 votes again for that vote to take place, or do they only need a single majority vote on the merits?
I’m fairly sure I saw a story yesterday saying that the bill that comes out of the House/Senate conference committee requires only a majority vote. I’m also reasonably sure that amendments to that bill are prohibited.
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p>I think, therefore, that the heavy lifting is done (aside from what does or does not happen in committee). A simple majority is all that’s required in both the House and Senate, followed of course by President Obama’s signature.
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p>Hopefully one of our parliamentary wonks can provide the specifics.
You are correct that amendments are prohibited, but I’m pretty sure a 60-vote cloture is still required to close debate. Filibustering at this point will only serve to kill it as without amendments there is no room to negotiate concessions. Once that happens final passage is by majority. I’ve also heard that House and Senate leaders may bypass the conference process and come to an agreement more informally on what will be presented to the respective chambers.
Not much chance to improve the bill in conference, then. Whatever comes out must still gain the support of Nelson and Lieberman & their ilk.
Last night on “Inside Washington” Mark Shields mentioned that cloture rules dom’t apply to conference reports. If he is correct then the House hand is stronger and we can afford to cut lose Nelson, Lieberman, Landreiu, and Lincoln. If this is correct and I had know it all along, I wouldn’t have been as harsh regarding the gamesmanship required to get it over this hurdle.