HEALTH CARE MOVES FORWARD IN SENATE

News Date November 24, 2009

During a rare weekend session, the US Senate voted to move the colossal health care package, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, ahead by a vote of 60-39. With the result still unclear until the final hours, the procedural vote went strictly along party-lines, as the Democrats secured the critical 60 votes to move the legislation forward. Following the Thanksgiving holiday recess, the Senate will continue to work on the legislation, which many Democrats hope to have completed before the end of the year. Along with the health care overhaul, Congress will also focus on completing fiscal year 2010 appropriations legislation, as 7 of 12 bills still remain to reach the President’s desk. (Contact: David Hickey)