Health Care Bill Clears First Senate Hurdle

Sweeping health care legislation has cleared its first hurdle in the Senate on a party-line vote.

By: Christian Stapleton | WKRG
Published: November 22, 2009

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Sweeping health care legislation has cleared
its first hurdle in the Senate on a party-line vote.
The 60-39 vote clears the way for a historic debate after
Thanksgiving on the legislation. The measure is designed to extend
coverage to an estimated 31 million Americans who lack it and crack
down on insurance industry practices that deny benefits.
The vote came in a rare Saturday session in the Senate.
Democrats posted 60 votes in a Senate showdown, precisely the
number needed to overcome Republican delaying tactics.
The vote was a major victory for Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid, D-Nev., and the White House in a year-end drive to enact the
most sweeping changes to the nation's health care system in a
half-century or more.