3 months ago
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic leaders have the 60 votes they need to keep their health care bill alive. The final undecided centrist, Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln, said she'll join 57 other Democrats and two independents in voting to move ahead with a sweeping bill to remake the nation's health care system.
The test vote scheduled for this evening will determine whether the bill goes to the Senate floor for debate.
The Senate is holding a Saturday session on what Democrats are describing as a long overdue overhaul of the nation's health care system. Republicans are deriding the effort as a "trillion-dollar scam."
A vote is expected around 8 p.m. (Eastern time) that will test whether Democrats have the support they need to keep debate going on the more than 2,000-page legislation.
Republicans were using their weekly radio and Internet address to criticize health care legislation coming up for a test vote in the Senate.
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo said rather than overhaul the system, the hefty measure will "drive up the cost of health care insurance and medical care."
Crapo said the bill isn't true health care reform and "will result in higher premiums and higher health care costs for Americans."
Democratic leaders were optimistic the bill will make it past its first hurdle Saturday night. Two moderate Democrats remained uncommitted ahead of the roll call, and their votes are needed to move ahead with the legislation.
Democrats said their legislation could make historic and necessary improvements in the country's social safety net.
The Associated Press
