Senate Short One Vote to End Several Health Care Filibusters

Following last weekend’s unexpected announcement by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) that he would not accept new provisions (i.e., opening Medicare to individuals aged 55-64 or a public option in a manager’s amendment to the Senate health care legislation), Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) brokered a deal earlier this week with Lieberman that brought the total of votes needed for cloture (ending filibuster) to 59. However, Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) appears to be the lone hold-out on the 60 Senators who caucus with Democrats needed to end the first of several cloture votes (ending filibuster) in the Senate’s adoption of health care legislation by Christmas. Among the issues over which Nelson has concerns include the abortion language, Medicaid expansion, public option, and taxes.