Health care bill clears U.S. Senate hurdle

Sunday, November 22, 2009

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The final tally was 60-39 in favor of health care overhaul debate.

(Bay News 9) -- The U.S. Senate has cleared the way for a full-scale debate on health care overhaul after their Thanksgiving break.

Saturday night, President Obama's version of the bill went through in a 60-39 vote.

All 58 Democrat and two Independent members of the Senate voted for the bill, with 39 Republicans voting against.

In Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson was a 'yes' and Sen. George LeMieux marked down as a 'no.'

Behind the scenes, Democratic leaders had their work cut out for them to convince moderates like Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas (the final Democrat holdout) to vote for their version of the bill.

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"The truth is this issue is very complex," Lincoln told her Senate colleagues. "There is no easy fix and it's imperative that we build on what's already working in health care in America."

Republicans blasted the notion that Senators should vote for a bill that they don't fully agree with.

The vote clears the way for official debate to begin on Nov. 30, one that could take weeks to discuss.

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