The New Media Journal | Time Crunch Looms for Senate Healthcare Bill

The New Media Journal | Time Crunch Looms for Senate Healthcare Bill: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pressing to advance his version of health-care legislation past a key juncture this week in a bid to avoid a timing crunch that could otherwise kick the proposed revamp into next year.

Republicans will likely filibuster the 'motion to proceed,' which simply allows the Senate to begin debate. Delaying consideration of the bill until 2010, an election year, could jeopardize its chances and turn the intricacies of the Senate timetable into a political tool for the bill's opponents.

This week could offer a test of Mr. Reid's ability to hold together Democrats and independents in the 60-vote majority needed to shut off any filibuster.

A handful of Democrats remain worried about issues including abortion restrictions and the overall cost of the health package. Among them is Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat who has yet to commit to support the motion to proceed to the bill.

Nelson spokesman Jake Thompson said the senator is expected to remain undecided until he sees an analysis of the legislation by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which will gauge the economic and fiscal impact of the bill. That analysis is expected to be done in the next few days. Mr. Thompson said the senator is 'waiting to see the bill and the [analysis]. Once he sees those, he can decide whether he can support the motion to proceed.'

An aide to Sen. Joseph Lieberman, another possible opponent, said the Connecticut independent is expected to vote for the motion to proceed, though he still has concerns about the broader bill. The aide said Sen. Lieberman will 'vote against' any effort to shut off debate later in the process if the legislation still contains a proposal to create a government-run insurance plan, as favored by many liberals and proposed by Mr. Reid."