Reid Hopes to Debate Health Reform Next Week

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Tuesday night started the process of making a place on the Senate calendar to begin debate next week on the Senate health reform proposal. Republicans are expected to mount a filibuster of the motion to proceed, which if successful would prevent the bill from being debated on the Senate floor. Reid needs 60 votes to overcome the filibuster, and he has been working to secure the votes of all 60 members of the Democratic Conference, given unanimous Republican opposition. Despite the formal calendar process, the timing of the Senate’s health care debate is still in doubt. Reid has given his Members assurances that he would not bring a measure to the floor without a formal cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO score is expected by the end of this week, but once Reid sees the estimate, he may seek tweaks to the bill that could delay the final score.