US Reid: To ‘Cross The Finish Line This Week’ On Health Care

–Senate Majority Leader: Reconciliation Bill Debate Begins Tuesday
–Sen. Reid: Blasts GOP For ‘Strategy of Delay, Myths and Fear’
–Senate Minority Leader McConnell: Dems Hurt Themselves W/Health Bill
–Sen. McConnell: Reconciliation Makes Health Bill ‘Even Worse’

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – A week of hard, partisan fighting over the final
piece of health care legislation began Monday, with Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid predicting final passage of a reconciliation bill and
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell vowing vigorous resistance.

In remarks on the Senate floor, Reid called House passage of a
sweeping health care bill Sunday night “momentous and historic.”

Reid said the Senate will begin debating the reconciliation bill
Tuesday, adding that he expects the year-long effort to pass health care
reform will “cross the finish line this week.”

Reid blasted Republicans for embracing a “strategy of delay, myths
and fear” in opposing the bill.

McConnell, speaking after Reid, scorched Democrats for trying to
push through Congress health care legislation which he said is deeply
unpopular with the public.

He said passage of health care would be a negative “turning point”
for Democrats in Congress.

McConnell did not reveal what strategy Senate Republicans will use
to try to defeat — or delay — passage of the reconciliation bill this
week.

But he said the reconciliation bill, which is designed to fix the
underlying health care legislation, would, in fact, “make it even
worse.”

“Enough is enough,” McConnell said.

The reconciliation bill makes a number of “fixes” to the
comprehensive health care bill that President Obama is expected to sign
Tuesday.

If the Senate passes the reconciliation bill without any changes,
it goes to Obama for his signature. But Senate Democrats first must
defeat Republican amendments and parliamentary attempts to remove
provisions from the bill. If the legislation is altered at all, it must
be sent back to the House for its consideration.

Under Senate rules, reconciliation bills are limited to 20 hours of
debate and all amendments must be germane to the bill.

McConnell said over the weekend that Republican amendments will
“highlight the massive Medicare cuts, the massive tax increases, and
other deficiencies that we think are the reason the American people are
against this bill.”

** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **

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