Vote to Begin Debate on Health Reform Bill “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” (H.R. 3590) Set for Saturday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled a vote to begin debate on the chamber’s health care overhaul bill for Saturday night, although it is not definite that Reid has the 60 votes he needs to overcome a Republican filibuster and bring the measure to the floor. Under a unanimous consent agreement reached Thursday, Republicans agreed to waive their prerogative to insist on 30 hours of post-cloture debate if Reid prevails on the procedural question and to forgo a roll call vote on adopting the motion to proceed, which would require just a simple majority to prevail. That could allow senators to begin their Thanksgiving recess on Saturday, rather than Sunday or later. Senate Democrats are attempting to get their version of their bill approved by the Christmas break, but it is unclear whether sufficient time remains on the legislative calendar for that to happen.