(WHAS11) There are late developments Saturday in the senate showdown over president Obama’s massive healthcare overhaul.
Democrats appear to have the votes they need to begin debate on the legislation. For Mitch McConnell, the republican leader of the senate, it is a major defeat.
With the vote just a few hours away, WHAS11’s Melanie Kahn has been monitoring the latest from Capitol Hill.
Mcconnell said, “…and make no mistake, the democrat plan we’ll vote on tonight would make life harder for the vast majority of Americans.”
Democrats have hit the magic number of 60 to move ahead on historic health care legislation.
Arkansas Senator, Blanche Lincoln, said on the senate floor hours before the 8:00 p.m. roll call, that she will vote with her party. She said it was important that the senate begin debate on a critical issue.
The centrist democrat was the lone holdout. Facing unanimous republican opposition, senate majority leader Harry Reid needed the 58 democrats and two independents, to vote to move forward on the sweeping bill to remake the nation’s health care system.
Shortly before 1:00 p.m. another centrist fence-sitter, democratic senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, said she would vote yes.
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