Senate approval for health care bill expected soon

Washington: The Senate has taken a giant step toward passing its sweeping health care Bill, uniting fractious Democrats after months of debate over President Barack Obama's promise to reduce the ranks of the uninsured.

Breaking the Republican filibuster required the votes of all 60 members of the Democratic caucus. The cloture motion, which passed 60-40, capped months of work by Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada, who negotiated compromises on big issues such as abortion and taxes, as well as parochial deals for key states and industries.

With final Senate approval of the Bill expected this week, Democrats and the White House were moving to shift the focus from their concessions — such as jettisoning a government alternative to private health insurance — toward the momentous changes they said it would bring: providing insurance to 31 million more Americans, cracking down on insurance practices, and beginning to curb health care cost inflation.

"I wish this Bill were different," said Assistant Majority Leader Richard J. Durbin, Illinois, on Sunday, reflecting liberals' unhappiness over compromises with conservatives.

Hurdles still ahead

Two more procedural votes — Monday and Tuesday — will be needed before the Bill comes to a final vote.

If all cloture motions pass — as seems likely — the Senate can vote on the Bill itself before Christmas. Republicans conceded that they were powerless to derail the Bill. But they vowed to force the debate to continue.