A Health Care Bill of Biblical Proportions?

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

5353646After a dramatic day on Tuesday of debating the merits of government-run health care, the leader of the Senate Finance Committee resumed deliberations Wednesday with a lofty analogy to describe their work.

"This is our sixth day of consideration of America's Healthy Future Act," Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said. "Now, in six days the good Lord created the heaven and earth. And even though we have a little less going on for us, I'm hoping we can still finish this bill with only a little bit more time, give or take."

The committee managed to get through 81 amendments in its first five days and on Wednesday morning tackled the controversial issue of abortion coverage in its health care overhaul. The senators will likely keep working on the bill through the week.

With the health care debate plodding along at a slow pace, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Wednesday that the Senate will not be able to take its typical week-long break for Columbus Day, Roll Call reports.

"I apologize to everyone for not being able to have that whole week off, but I think with health care, which is really beginning to ferment, it wouldn't be right for us to be gone that week," Reid reportedly said on the Senate floor. "I think we should be able to start our health care work that week here on the Senate floor."