Reid Expects to Bring Health Care Bill Up Next Week

SenateMajority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday answered “yes and yes”when asked whether he expects to bring health care reform legislationto the floor next week and whether it is realistic for the Senate topass a bill by Christmas.

President BarackObama is pushing Congress to deliver a bill to his desk by year’s end.Exactly how the Senate proceeds is still unclear, given theCongressional Budget Office is still reviewing the final Senate billand Democratic leaders aren’t sure when it will be ready for theConference to review. The House passed its version of a health careoverhaul Saturday night, 220-215.

Because of thetime-consuming CBO analysis, Reid would not rule out trying to getdebate started on the bill before the score is ready, but he said, “Ifrankly doubt” that debate would have to move forward without theestimate.

“We’re waiting to get back numbers from CBO. It should be pretty soon,” he said to reporters.

Additionally,Reid said that he expects an acceptable compromise to be reached on theabortion issue, but that he also expects to move forward with a publicinsurance option, which has divided moderate and liberal Members of theDemocratic Conference. “I believe strongly in a public option,” Reidsaid.

“I expect thatthe bill that will be brought to the floor will ensure that no federalfunds are used for abortion and that the rights of providers, healthcare facilities, like Catholic hospitals, will be protected, so Ibelieve we can work that out, and we will” Reid added.

At least onemoderate Democrat, Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.), has said he will voteagainst a motion to proceed on the bill if it does not include languageprohibiting the federal funding of abortion that is similar to anamendment passed by the House as a part of its health care package.

Meanwhile, Sen.Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.), who caucuses with the Democrats, hasmaintained that he would support a filibuster to end debate on a healthcare bill that includes a public insurance option of any kind. Reidsaid he spoke to Lieberman earlier Tuesday and is “confident we’ll worksomething out.”