The health care legislative process is more or less frozen for
now while everybody waits until the Congressional Budget Office
puts a price tag on the updated draft of the Senate Finance
Committee bill. Only then will the bill be able to be voted out
of committee, allowing Democrats to begin the difficult process
of trying to merge it with the more liberal Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee bill.
While the Finance Committee was hoping to have a vote tomorrow,
it is now expected to be delayed at least until Wednesday or
Thursday, according to a staffer for a Republican on the
committee. Next week, the Senate is only in session for three
days because of Columbus Day, and next Thursday is October 15 --
the date after which reconciliation becomes an option for
Democrats.
