Oh wait, this is Washington, they don’t call it bribery, they call it “leverage”:
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said Friday night that she’s “leaning towards” voting to start debate on the health care bill – which would leave Democrats just a single vote shy of clearing a critical test for the reform package on Saturday.
Asked outside the Capitol if she’s made up her mind on starting the debate, Landrieu said she planned to announce her intentions Saturday but told POLITICO, “I’m leaning towards it.”
That would mean Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s hopes for a successful vote hinge on one senator: Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who remained mum about her intentions as the clock ticked down to the critical vote.
Lincoln told POLITICO Friday afternoon that she has no timetable to make her decision ahead of the vote, scheduled for 8 p.m. “I was told I have time to make my decision,” Lincoln said.
And Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced he would vote yes on going ahead with debate, even though he is calling for significant amendments to the bill on the floor.
Democrats from the White House to Capitol Hill projected confidence that Reid would have the 60 votes needed to start debate on health reform, despite the reservations expressed by senators on various details in the bill.
But with barely 24 hours left before the Saturday vote, no issue had emerged to immediately derail the $848 billion package, and Reid’s No. 2, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, told reporters, “We will proceed with this bill.”
At this point it’s down to one vote.
If you live in Arkansas, contact Senator Blanche Lincoln:
355 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4843
Fax (202) 228-1371912 West Fourth Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 375-2993
Fax (501) 375-7064
Toll Free 1-800-352-9364
and tell her to vote NO.
December 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
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