The U.S. Senate is expected to hold a crucial vote on its version of a health care reform bill Saturday night. The vote, while critical, is not the final vote on the health care reform bill.
What may be voted on Saturday is a motion allowing the Senate to hold a debate leading to a final vote on its health care reform bill in the days ahead. Called a "motion to invoke cloture," the measure will require at least 60 votes to pass.
The Senate's 2,074-page health care reform bill would extend health insurance coverage to some 30 million uninsured Americans at an estimated cost to the federal budget of $849 billion over 10 years.
The House of Representatives passed its version of a health care reform bill two weeks ago.
Under the legislative process, should the Senate ultimately pass its version of the health care reform bill, a House-Senate conference committee would be appointed to work out differences between the House and Senate bills. The single, compromise health care reform bill would then be considered by both the House and Senate.
UPDATE: Nov. 22, 2009: The Senate voted 60-39 on Saturday night to proceed to full consideration of its health care reform bill. Debate is scheduled to begin when the Senate re-convenes on Nov. 30, after the Thanksgiving break.Also See: The Legislative Process
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