TPM: Reid Files Cloture, First Floor Vote on Senate Health Care Bill Saturday, 8PM

[flpoljunkie]

Reid Files Cloture, First Floor Vote On Senate Health Care Bill Saturday, 8 PM

Brian Beutler | November 19, 2009

UPDATE: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid just filed for cloture on the motion to proceed to debate on his health care bill. That pretty much seals it. Unless conservative Democrats take a very public stand by voting "no," the bill unveiled yesterday will be the bill the Senate hashes out on the floor.

The Senate will be in session this Saturday evening, ahead of a scheduled 8 pm cloture vote on the motion to proceed to debate historic health care legislation, TPMDC has learned. Assuming Majority Leader Harry Reid has the 60 votes he needs to leap that hurdle, Democrats will likely have to eat up 30 hours before they can hold the actual vote--at a 51-vote threshold--on the motion to proceed itself. Still with me?

Doing some math, that means the bill won't be cleared for debate and amendments and so forth until, at the earliest, 2 am Monday morning. Even if that happens, the bill will likely have to be read aloud (another two day process) so we're still looking at debate in earnest after Thanksgiving recess.

And since nothing says Saturday night like Senate cloture votes on procedural motions, we'll bring you all the action live.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/first-floor-vote-on-senate-health-care-bill-saturday-8-pm.php?ref=fpb

[backscatter712]

1. I'll tentatively call this a good sign.

Reid's been punk'd before, but the fact he's bringing it up to a vote indicates that Reid at least thinks he has 60 votes. Add to that the fact that several White House bigwigs (Biden, Salazar, Emmanuel) are on the Senate floor cracking those whips, and I'd say we're probably going to get those 60 votes.

Especially since Reid's up for reelection next year, and can't afford to allow himself to get punk'd again, this does make me think this one's in the bag.

Of course, the final Senate floor vote is another matter altogether, but Saturday's vote to bring health care to the floor is probably a done deal.

[high density]

2. Sounds like another exciting Saturday night for C-SPAN programming! NM

[Clio the Leo]

3. lol and another night of "oh, I just dont feel like going out tonight"

.... excuses on my part.

(I didn't dare say last time that I couldn't go out because I had to stay home and watch CSPAN or I would have been laughed out of my social network. lol)

[yourguide]

11. +1 lol

[Better Believe It]

4. Since when do you need 60 votes to simply debate a bill and who passed that rule?

I don't recall the Republicans needing 60 votes to merely debate legislation proposed by them when they controlled the Senate.

Is this a relatively new rule, is it in the Constitution, when was it made and how can that "rule" be changed by the Democrats who allegedly control the Senate?

[SpartanDem]

6. Just about any motion can be filibustered

now it not that to see motion to proceed, I found plenty of examples from the 109th Congress. Changes to Senate rules require two-thirds of Senators voting



00252 20-Sep H.R. 6061 On the Cloture Motion Agreed to Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 6061; Secure Fence Act of 2006

00229 03-Aug H.R. 5970 On the Cloture Motion Rejected Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R.5970; Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act of 2006

00217 26-Jul S. 3711 On the Cloture Motion Agreed to Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 3711; Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006

00165 08-Jun S. 147 On the Cloture Motion Rejected Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 147; Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005

00164 08-Jun H.R. 8 On the Cloture Motion Rejected Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consideration of H.R. 8; Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2005

00163 07-Jun S.J.Res. 1 On the Cloture Motion Rejected Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S. J. Res. 1; Marriage Protection Amendment

[Better Believe It]

10. So make them filibuster on the floor of the Senate. No more lame excuses for inaction!

Democrats allegedly run the Senate. They can change the rules and even used the so-called nuclear option if necessary to bypass bogus phantom Republican filibusters!

[SpartanDem]

13. I agree they should made to do a real filibuster

but as for changing rules where are you going to get the 67 votes?

[Egnever]

7. Seriously?

Cause if you are serious it explains a lot about your posting habits.

[Better Believe It]

9. Another Democratic excuse for inaction: They make the rules! How about this for a rule:

How about requiring a cloture motion to require a cloture motion on a cloture motion to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed on a debate to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to a debate on the Senate health care bill?

That should give the Democrats even more excuses for failing to act!

[unblock]

5. another saturday night and i ain't got no cloture

obstructionists are holding up the show
and how i wish i had sixty or more votes
i'm in an awful way.

[Arkana]

8. Huh. Sounds like it's actually gonna happen.

[a kennedy]

12. Loved Keith last night when he said "sounds like a par-tay"

I'll be watching, well flipping channels, college football ya know. :toast: :bounce: