Health Care Passes New Hurdle

Senate Democrats seeking to pass their health-care reform bill by Christmas overcame another obstacle early Tuesday morning when a 60-39 party-line vote finalized amendments to the package. After a third and final procedural vote, expected to come Wednesday, the Senate can vote on final passage of the bill, likely late on Thursday. The GOP continued in their attempts to slow the legislation, with 39 of 40 members voting against Tuesday’s measure, while the Democratic caucus held firm with sixty votes; Republicans, who have run out of options in their quest to block the bill, continued to deride the reform.