Reid Gets 60 Votes for Health Care Debate
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada secured the 60 votes needed to move forward with the historic debate on President Obama’s overhaul of health care today.
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November 21, 2009 5:37 PM
November 20, 2009 4:47 PM 
With the first critical vote for the Senate health care bill slated for Saturday night, both advocates and opponents of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's bill are putting pressure on the few key Democratic senators who may or may not hold up the measure.
On Saturday at 8 p.m., the Senate will vote on whether or not to even begin debate on the measure. Reid needs at least 60 senators to vote in favor of debate, and Republicans plan on uniformly voting against moving forward. A handful of conservative Democrats have expressed reservations about supporting the bill, for various reasons, and two have not yet disclosed whether they will vote in favor of moving the debate forward on Saturday: Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.).
However, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), another conservative Democrat whose vote was in play, announced today he would vote in favor of beginning debate. He maintained, though, that he will vote with Republicans to filibuster the bill after debating it, if it is not altered to his liking.
"The Senate should start trying to fix a health care system that costs too much and delivers too little for Nebraskans," Nelson said in a statement. Saturday's vote, he said, "is only to begin debate and an opportunity to make improvements. If you don't like a bill why block your own opportunity to amend it?"
Nelson and his fellow centrist Democrats have been feeling the heat from all sides. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) e-mailed his supporters this morning, Politico reports, urging them to call Nelson's office and ask him to vote against the health care debate tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee sent out an e-mail with the subject "Your Call Can Make the Difference," also urging people to call Nelson and Lincoln and ask them to vote against Saturday's motion.
Ben Nelson Will Vote to Begin Health Debate; What Will Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln Do?
(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
On Saturday at 8 p.m., the Senate will vote on whether or not to even begin debate on the measure. Reid needs at least 60 senators to vote in favor of debate, and Republicans plan on uniformly voting against moving forward. A handful of conservative Democrats have expressed reservations about supporting the bill, for various reasons, and two have not yet disclosed whether they will vote in favor of moving the debate forward on Saturday: Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.).
However, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), another conservative Democrat whose vote was in play, announced today he would vote in favor of beginning debate. He maintained, though, that he will vote with Republicans to filibuster the bill after debating it, if it is not altered to his liking.
"The Senate should start trying to fix a health care system that costs too much and delivers too little for Nebraskans," Nelson said in a statement. Saturday's vote, he said, "is only to begin debate and an opportunity to make improvements. If you don't like a bill why block your own opportunity to amend it?"
Nelson and his fellow centrist Democrats have been feeling the heat from all sides. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) e-mailed his supporters this morning, Politico reports, urging them to call Nelson's office and ask him to vote against the health care debate tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee sent out an e-mail with the subject "Your Call Can Make the Difference," also urging people to call Nelson and Lincoln and ask them to vote against Saturday's motion.
November 20, 2009 4:06 PM
Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln and the Politics of the Health Care Vote
A few notes on the spotlighted players in the Senate's health care vote, in the context of the 2010 elections and their electorates back home. As Majority Leader, Harry Reid (at left) is at center stage and is up in Nevada next year. The focus is also on some Democrats with doubts, notably Louisiana's Mary Landrieu and Nebraska's Ben Nelson, who aren't up but do represent very red states, and Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln, who is, and could face a tough test in 2010.
Nelson Will Vote to Begin Health Debate; What Will Landrieu, Lincoln Do?
Key Provisions of the Senate Health Care Bill
Washington Unplugged: Reid Seeks Momentum in Health Debate
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Lincoln (at left) not only represents a red state, but one that got even more Republican in 2008 from 2004 (one of the few that did). She needs to be mindful of those Republican voters: one in five of her backers in 2004 had also backed then-President Bush's reelection. To win that race, Lincoln outraised and outspent her opponent by six million dollars, but her Republican challenger still got 44 percent So Lincoln doesn't appear to have a lot of electoral margin for error with Arkansas voters.
On one hand, the state has an uninsured rate higher than the national average. But Lincoln (at left) will also need to make older voters happy, which so far has looked like a daunting task with this bill, at least nationwide.
Nelson Will Vote to Begin Health Debate; What Will Landrieu, Lincoln Do?
Key Provisions of the Senate Health Care Bill
Washington Unplugged: Reid Seeks Momentum in Health Debate
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
On one hand, the state has an uninsured rate higher than the national average. But Lincoln (at left) will also need to make older voters happy, which so far has looked like a daunting task with this bill, at least nationwide.
November 20, 2009 9:02 AM
Politics Today: The Health Care Bill’s First Test in the Senate
Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
** Gearing up for a long health care Senate debate...
** Stimulus tracking comes under fire...
** Republican governors focus on economic issues...
HEALTH CARE: "The Senate Thursday began what promises to be a bitter, lengthy battle over the future of health care in America, and taxes, abortion, affordability and federal deficits emerged as key flashpoints," reports McClatchy Newspapers' David Lightman.
"Senate Democratic leaders expect the first test vote on their new $848 billion, 2,074-page health care overhaul bill will come on Saturday evening. Although Democrats are likely to get the 60 votes they need to move forward with the debate, the outcome is uncertain.
"Should the measure pass that initial test, lawmakers made it clear Thursday that they're ready for weeks of political warfare.
"Democrats framed their mission in heroic terms.
"'This is about the woman with high cholesterol, or the man with heart disease, or the child with hay fever who can't get help,' said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. 'That's why we're stopping insurance companies from deciding they'd simply rather not give health care to the sick.'”
"The first test for the bill, which would extend coverage to 31 million more Americans while reducing federal deficits by $130 billion over the next decade, will come Saturday evening," write the Washington Post's Lori Montgomery and Shailagh Murray. "That is when Democratic leaders hope to keep together all 60 of their caucus members to turn back Republican procedural objections. Reid's efforts are focused on three moderate Democrats who oppose various provisions in the measure and have not declared whether they will support efforts to advance it.
** Gearing up for a long health care Senate debate...
** Stimulus tracking comes under fire...
** Republican governors focus on economic issues...
(AP)
"Senate Democratic leaders expect the first test vote on their new $848 billion, 2,074-page health care overhaul bill will come on Saturday evening. Although Democrats are likely to get the 60 votes they need to move forward with the debate, the outcome is uncertain.
"Should the measure pass that initial test, lawmakers made it clear Thursday that they're ready for weeks of political warfare.
"Democrats framed their mission in heroic terms.
"'This is about the woman with high cholesterol, or the man with heart disease, or the child with hay fever who can't get help,' said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. 'That's why we're stopping insurance companies from deciding they'd simply rather not give health care to the sick.'”
"The first test for the bill, which would extend coverage to 31 million more Americans while reducing federal deficits by $130 billion over the next decade, will come Saturday evening," write the Washington Post's Lori Montgomery and Shailagh Murray. "That is when Democratic leaders hope to keep together all 60 of their caucus members to turn back Republican procedural objections. Reid's efforts are focused on three moderate Democrats who oppose various provisions in the measure and have not declared whether they will support efforts to advance it.
November 19, 2009 5:57 PM Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday that the Senate will take its first procedural vote on his health care bill at 8 p.m. on Saturday, CBS News Capitol Hill Producer John Nolen reports.
Once the ball is rolling on health care, however, Republicans plan to pull out all the stops against it. They could use procedural tactics to draw out the debate, such as requesting the entire 2,000-plus page document be read aloud.
"It's going to be a holy war," Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) told the Los Angeles Times.
Even just beginning the debate could be difficult, however. Reid needs all 60 Democrats to pass the first procedural vote to begin debate. After the procedural vote, the Senate will hold a voice vote to actually start debating. The Senate will adjourn for Thanksgiving, though, and come back on Nov. 30 to begin debate in earnest.
After what could be weeks of debate, Reid will once again need to hold his caucus together to pass another procedural vote -- this time to overcome a Republican filibuster to allow for a vote of the actual bill. This vote should be the most challenging. Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) said today he would join the Republican filibuster if he determines he does not approve of certain aspects of the bill, reports Roll Call.
Orrin Hatch Says Health Care Vote Will Start "Holy War"
(AP)
Once the ball is rolling on health care, however, Republicans plan to pull out all the stops against it. They could use procedural tactics to draw out the debate, such as requesting the entire 2,000-plus page document be read aloud.
"It's going to be a holy war," Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) told the Los Angeles Times.
Even just beginning the debate could be difficult, however. Reid needs all 60 Democrats to pass the first procedural vote to begin debate. After the procedural vote, the Senate will hold a voice vote to actually start debating. The Senate will adjourn for Thanksgiving, though, and come back on Nov. 30 to begin debate in earnest.
After what could be weeks of debate, Reid will once again need to hold his caucus together to pass another procedural vote -- this time to overcome a Republican filibuster to allow for a vote of the actual bill. This vote should be the most challenging. Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) said today he would join the Republican filibuster if he determines he does not approve of certain aspects of the bill, reports Roll Call.
November 19, 2009 5:36 PM
Key Provisions of the Senate Health Care Bill
This post was written by CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes and CBS News producer John Nolen
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled his health care proposal "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" on Wednesday night.
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill would cost $848 billion dollars over 10 years, reduce the deficit by $130 billion and would extend coverage to 94 percent of eligible Americans, reducing the number of uninsured individuals by 31 million leaving about 24 million people uninsured.
Here's a look at some of the key provisions of the bill:
• Effective Date 2014
• Requires most individuals to purchase coverage through their employer, privately or through a public plan. Includes exemptions for economic hardships. Fines for individuals not complying would start at $95 in 2014 phased-in over time up to $750.
• Creates a new public federal health insurance plan, the so-called "public option" which would compete with private insurers. States would have the choice of opting out by passing a state law.
• Establishes Health Insurance Exchanges, a marketplace where individuals, small businesses and others could purchase health care coverage.
(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill would cost $848 billion dollars over 10 years, reduce the deficit by $130 billion and would extend coverage to 94 percent of eligible Americans, reducing the number of uninsured individuals by 31 million leaving about 24 million people uninsured.
Here's a look at some of the key provisions of the bill:
• Effective Date 2014
• Requires most individuals to purchase coverage through their employer, privately or through a public plan. Includes exemptions for economic hardships. Fines for individuals not complying would start at $95 in 2014 phased-in over time up to $750.
• Creates a new public federal health insurance plan, the so-called "public option" which would compete with private insurers. States would have the choice of opting out by passing a state law.
• Establishes Health Insurance Exchanges, a marketplace where individuals, small businesses and others could purchase health care coverage.
November 19, 2009 4:51 PM
On "Washington Unplugged" Thursday, CBS News' Marc Ambinder said that while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has an uphill battle getting the health care he bill introduced last night passed, not all hope is lost
He noted how important the votes of Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.) , Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), as well Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), are to the bill's chance of passage. "Their biggest stated concern is that the bill will add to the deficit over ten years," Ambinder explained, adding that the White House and Democratic leaders are encouraged because the Reid plan was estimated to decrease the deficit.
"It removes a major obstacle to moderates supporting it," he said. And the White House may have reason to rejoice.
"The White House strategy amounts to three words," CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller said. "Get it passed."
Will Moderates Support the Senate Health Care Bill?
On "Washington Unplugged" Thursday, CBS News' Marc Ambinder said that while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has an uphill battle getting the health care he bill introduced last night passed, not all hope is lost
He noted how important the votes of Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.) , Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), as well Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), are to the bill's chance of passage. "Their biggest stated concern is that the bill will add to the deficit over ten years," Ambinder explained, adding that the White House and Democratic leaders are encouraged because the Reid plan was estimated to decrease the deficit.
"It removes a major obstacle to moderates supporting it," he said. And the White House may have reason to rejoice.
"The White House strategy amounts to three words," CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller said. "Get it passed."
November 19, 2009 3:39 PM 
Updated at 5:35 p.m. ET with news of bill's passage.
The House of Representatives passed the Medicare Payment Reform Act today by a vote of 243 to 183.
The measure is a permanent fix costing $210 billion. It must still clear the Senate, however, before the president can sign it into law. If Congress does not pass it, doctors' Medicare reimbursement rates will be cut by 21 percent in January.
The fix is not paid for, even though House Democrats attached pay-go legislation to the bill. The move is an attempt to force the Senate to accept their solution to curbing the massive deficit, but the Senate has resisted pay-go legislation so far. This is something that would need to be worked out between the two chambers in conference if the Senate is able to pass its own "Medicare doc fix" bill.
The pay-go legislation would force lawmakers to offset all new entitlement spending or tax cuts -- excluding the "doc fix," the Alternative Minimum Tax, the estate tax and the extension of former President George W. Bush's tax cuts for people who make less than $250,000.
Additionally, pay-go would not apply to appropriations bills. With so many exceptions -- including the "doc fix" itself -- Republicans are calling pay-go a sham.
The Senate tried, and failed on a procedural vote, to pass an unpaid for "Medicare doc fix" last month.
Jill Jackson is a CBS News Capitol Hill Producer. You can read more of her posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow her on Twitter.
House Passes "Medicare Doc Fix"
(CBS)
The House of Representatives passed the Medicare Payment Reform Act today by a vote of 243 to 183.
The measure is a permanent fix costing $210 billion. It must still clear the Senate, however, before the president can sign it into law. If Congress does not pass it, doctors' Medicare reimbursement rates will be cut by 21 percent in January.
The fix is not paid for, even though House Democrats attached pay-go legislation to the bill. The move is an attempt to force the Senate to accept their solution to curbing the massive deficit, but the Senate has resisted pay-go legislation so far. This is something that would need to be worked out between the two chambers in conference if the Senate is able to pass its own "Medicare doc fix" bill.
The pay-go legislation would force lawmakers to offset all new entitlement spending or tax cuts -- excluding the "doc fix," the Alternative Minimum Tax, the estate tax and the extension of former President George W. Bush's tax cuts for people who make less than $250,000.
Additionally, pay-go would not apply to appropriations bills. With so many exceptions -- including the "doc fix" itself -- Republicans are calling pay-go a sham.
The Senate tried, and failed on a procedural vote, to pass an unpaid for "Medicare doc fix" last month.
(CBS)
November 19, 2009 2:59 PM 
Democratic Rep. Artur Davis is the the only African American in Congress representing Alabama, and he was the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to vote against the House Democratic health care bill earlier this month. And yesterday, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson apparently called him out for it.
"You can't vote against health care and call yourself a black man," Jackson said Wednesday night, the Hill newspaper reports. Jackson made the remarks at an event hosted by the CBC Foundation to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jackson's presidential bid.
Jackson later told the Hill he "didn't call anybody by name," but he noted that the state of Alabama could benefit from health care reform because of its relatively high poverty levels. In a statement to the Hill, Davis avoided conflict with Jackson.
"One of the reasons that I like and admire Rev. Jesse Jackson is that 21 years ago he inspired the idea that a black politician would not be judged simply as a black leader," he said. "The best way to honor Rev. Jackson's legacy is to decline to engage in an argument with him that begins and ends with race."
Some CBC members defended Jackson's statement, but they also rationalized Davis' vote.
Jesse Jackson Slams Black Votes Against Health Care
(CBS)
"You can't vote against health care and call yourself a black man," Jackson said Wednesday night, the Hill newspaper reports. Jackson made the remarks at an event hosted by the CBC Foundation to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jackson's presidential bid.
Jackson later told the Hill he "didn't call anybody by name," but he noted that the state of Alabama could benefit from health care reform because of its relatively high poverty levels. In a statement to the Hill, Davis avoided conflict with Jackson.
"One of the reasons that I like and admire Rev. Jesse Jackson is that 21 years ago he inspired the idea that a black politician would not be judged simply as a black leader," he said. "The best way to honor Rev. Jackson's legacy is to decline to engage in an argument with him that begins and ends with race."
Some CBC members defended Jackson's statement, but they also rationalized Davis' vote.
November 19, 2009 11:21 AM Democrats are attempting to improve Americans' access to medical care through their massive health insurance overhaul, but they may make it a little harder for those seeking out Botox or breast implants.
The health care bill unveiled by Senate Majority Harry Reid on Wednesday night includes a 5 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery. The tax is expected to raise an estimated $5.8 billion over 10 years to help pay for the $849 billion plan, the Agence France-Presse reports.
The tax would only hit elective procedures -- it exempts any procedures "necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease." It would go into effect, according to the bill, on Jan. 1, 2010.
The "botax," as some have called it, was originally considered in the Senate Finance Committee but was dropped at the time.
Some evidence could suggest the measure may not raise as much revenue as expected. In 2004, the state of New Jersey passed a 6 percent tax on plastic surgery that was expected to raise $24 million a year. However, it only brought in about $7.5 million in 2005, the National Journal reported, and around $11 million in 2007.
The market for cosmetic procedures does not seem to have suffered from the bad economy: the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2008, up 3 percent from 2007. Surgical procedures, like breast augmentation declined, but minimally-invasive procedures like Botox increased. The professional group says the U.S. spent $10.3 billion spent on cosmetic procedures last year.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Senate Embarks on Health Care Battle
Dems Feel the Heat over Abortion
Plastic Surgery Tax Added to Health Care Bill
(AP)
The health care bill unveiled by Senate Majority Harry Reid on Wednesday night includes a 5 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery. The tax is expected to raise an estimated $5.8 billion over 10 years to help pay for the $849 billion plan, the Agence France-Presse reports.
The tax would only hit elective procedures -- it exempts any procedures "necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease." It would go into effect, according to the bill, on Jan. 1, 2010.
The "botax," as some have called it, was originally considered in the Senate Finance Committee but was dropped at the time.
Some evidence could suggest the measure may not raise as much revenue as expected. In 2004, the state of New Jersey passed a 6 percent tax on plastic surgery that was expected to raise $24 million a year. However, it only brought in about $7.5 million in 2005, the National Journal reported, and around $11 million in 2007.
The market for cosmetic procedures does not seem to have suffered from the bad economy: the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2008, up 3 percent from 2007. Surgical procedures, like breast augmentation declined, but minimally-invasive procedures like Botox increased. The professional group says the U.S. spent $10.3 billion spent on cosmetic procedures last year.
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Senate Embarks on Health Care Battle
Dems Feel the Heat over Abortion
