TIMING OF SENATE HEALTH CARE DEBATE UNCERTAIN

November 5, 2009

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced on November 3 that the Senate bill would not be “bound by any timelines” when it comes to debating health care legislation. Leader Reid has sent several versions of health care legislation to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and is awaiting its cost analysis before moving forward. Once the CBO numbers are in, Leader Reid, working closely with a handful of senators and the Administration is expected to put together a bill and send it back to CBO for another cost estimate. With the Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving holidays approaching, it would appear that there's little time for floor debate before December. Leader Reid continues to look for a bill that can secure the 60 votes needed to avert a filibuster.