Reid hopes to begin debate next week

[DearAbby]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) doesn't have a health care bill, cost estimates or 60 votes to pass it - but he said Tuesday that he does expect to begin a floor debate next week on the legislation.

Reid also said he will deliver a final bill to the president by Christmas, meeting the White House deadline.

"We sure hope so," Reid said.

Reid did not rule out filing for cloture on the bill without a CBO score, but doubted he would do that.

Reid said he spoke Tuesday morning with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), and was "confident" they could work out their differences.

On abortion, Reid said he would work with both sides of the issue to come up with a compromise. "The one thing we are certain to do is to maintain what we have had in the past," he said, referring to the Hyde Amendment.


http://www.politico.com/livepulse/1109/Reid_Debate_to_begin_next_week.html