Assuming that Republican candidate Scott Brown wins tomorrow’s special election in Massachusetts — which, despite his apparently increasing lead in the polls there, remains very much in doubt — Republicans and Democrats alike are beginning to publicly speculate on the race’s implications on President Obama’s landmark health care legislation.
Speaking to Fox News yesterday, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voiced his uncertainty as to whether the winner of the race would be sworn in quickly enough to vote on the health care bill.
TPM reports that House Democrats are now seriously considering the possibility of quickly passing the legislation unchanged from the Senate version. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid commented on the matter (and, to avoid the dangerous prospect of actually speaking, communicated through a spokesperson) by insisting this weekend that the procedure would be “well within the scope of the rules of the Senate.”
“The House could simply pass the Senate bill unchanged, and Obama could sign reform into law. As recently as last week, a number of high-profile Democrats were saying that would never fly. But many are now suggesting that the House might still pull through, if House members are promised that the deal they agreed to last week will be passed separately–and quickly–through the filibuster-proof budget reconciliation process.”
Read more at TPM
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