Health Reform To Pass Final Vote 12/23
Tomorrow the Senate is expected to vote for the third and final time on the health care legislation. The final vote is expected to take place at dawn on Thursday. After that the last step before the bill hits President Obama’s desk is to reconcile the bill that was passed in the House with this Senate bill.
While there are major differences between the two including the Public Option being on the House Bill, the two bill do share much in common, most importantly the health insurance mandate, which makes it a “crime” to be without health insurance. The penalty? Only a $800 fine, which is about a month of health insurance for many families, and about 5 months for most people under 35 years old.
The final reconciliation which is likely to be stretched into February is going to certainly be difficult but not impossible, and the smart money is betting on the President signing this bill before Valentine’s Day.
The Senate has met for 24 consecutive days to debate the legislation, the second-longest such stretch in history, and Democrats held a celebratory press conference.
The details of the bill as well as analysis can be found just about everywhere in our health insurance news section and we of course wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy holiday season.
