The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : The Race to Christmas

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We still don't have a bill or a score from the Congressional Budget Office and in the latest NBC/WSJ poll, support for passing Democrats' health care legislation has dropped to 32 percent, yet Democrats are still pushing to pass a bill before Christmas.

Sen. Max Baucus told the Hill that they are prepared to vote on Christmas Day, while the Politico reports that "Senators privately considered one scenario Wednesday that would have them casting a final vote at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve."

Passage of the health care bill would require three 60-vote thresholds, which would have to occur over the course of several days, meaning that Senate Majority Reid would have to begin that process -- i.e. file cloture -- this weekend.

Of course, all of this is contingent on him getting 60 votes. So far, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ben Nelson are holdouts, while people assume that Sens. Russ Feingold and Roland Burris will be onboard, but they haven't declared that they would be.

View all comments (4) | Leave a comment

sinanju| 12.17.09 @ 11:43AM

This gets sillier by the hour. The reason for the Christmas rush is almost too obvious to be remarked upon. If this isn't rammed up our collective keisters by the holiday recess, it will most certainly be dead afterwards. The sort of reception the Dem reps and senators are going to receive over the holidays in their home districts are going to be one for the books.

Their elderly constituents especially, are going to want a little chat with them. Can you say "Rostenkowski" (as a verb)" boys and girls? I knew you could.

I just wonder if the blue dogs are really going to take on faith the elaborate promises of cushy sinecures that Obama, Axelrod, and Rahm have no doubt made to them after they get booted from office.

Oldefarte| 12.17.09 @ 11:51AM

A message to ALL SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES: There will be A RUSH TO THE VOTING POLLS beginning next year-----hopefully you have a plan B, alternative course of employment in mind, in consideration of the consequences of your rush to provide this WELFARE to your indigent constituents!!!!

Roy| 12.17.09 @ 12:12PM

What do you mean, their indigent constituents? More like their greedy middle class constituents who'd rather take money from their neighbors than earn it themselves.

Their indigent constituents already get Medicaid.