Obama's health care Bill faces first test in the Senate
Democrats close to reaching votes needed to overcome opposition and open debate
Senators were to vote at 8pm EST (5am UAE time) on whether to start debate on Democratic leader Harry Reid's plan to overhaul the $2.5 trillion health care system — the first procedural hurdle for the 2,074-page Bill.
Democrats need 60 votes to approve the motion in the 100-member Senate and have no margin for error — they control exactly 60 votes and Republicans are united in opposition.
Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landrieu, moderate Democrats from conservative Southern states where the overhaul is unpopular, remain publicly uncommitted. A third wavering Democrat, Ben Nelson, announced on Friday he would support moving to debate. The health care overhaul, President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, would expand coverage to millions of uninsured and bar insurance practices like denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.
"This Bill provides the necessary health reforms that the administration seeks — affordable, quality care within reach for the tens of millions of Americans who do not have it today, and stability and security for the hundreds of millions who do," the White House said in a statement of support on Friday.
Heavy-handed
Republicans have condemned the measure as a costly and heavy-handed government intrusion in the private sector that would raise insurance premiums and increase taxes.
They vowed to delay and block the Senate Bill and openly appealed to Lincoln and Landrieu to join them.
