Progress

Health Care Inches Forward

Drug proposal rejected; will Nelson hold out?

Health-care reform moved forward slowly and unsurely, as senators rejected a proposal to make it easier to import prescription drugs from countries like Canada, where they are much cheaper. The 51-48 vote fell short of the 60 required votes. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, meanwhile, was once again holding out, saying “I’m not on the bill.” The Hill also reports that the Republican most likely to vote in favor, Olympia Snowe, has “misgivings” and does not want to vote on the bill before Christmas. Nelson is most concerned about abortion provisions in the bill; Snowe supports abortion rights and so she might make for an easier 60th vote than Nelson.