Health-Care Bill Creeps Forward

Health-care reform cleared an early hurdle in the House on Monday: The House Budget Committee voted 21 to 16 to send the legislation to the House Rules Committee. Two Democrats joined 14 Republicans in voting against it; both these Democrats had voted against the earlier version of the legislation that the House passed last fall. On Thursday, the House Rules Committee will draft a package of fixes to the Senate bill, which passed on Christmas Eve. Nancy Pelosi is hoping that uncommitted Democrats will approve of the bill once this new language is revealed. Should it pass the Rules Committee, the legislation is expected to be on the House floor by Friday or Saturday.