This morning along party lines the Senate Democrats passed their version of health reform. Now this goes to a conference committee to merge the house and senate bills. The Senate bill is actually a substitute amendment to an existing bill passed by the house, so the leverage in the house will be much less than it would have been if they had passed a straight senate bill. This is the first time since 1896 that the Senate has met on Christmas Eve.
Next week begins negotiations with the house, with such a tight vote in the Senate it is unlikely that there will be many changes made to the Senate version.
Links to what the Senators actually voted for:
CBO Score of the Mangers Amendment
Healthcare Leadership Council comparisons of house and senate versions including manager’s amendment