Politics Blog: The Health Care Debate, When is the Vote?

Posted by Allison Donnelly

Although the Senate Finance Committee completed their draft on proposed health care legislation on Friday, Oct. 2, there has yet to be an actual vote on the bill. Many media outlets have suggested that the Committee will vote on Tuesday, Oct. 6, but this is not the case. In fact, there seems to be no date scheduled at all.

In order for the Senate Finance Committee to proceed with health care reform, it must go through the Congressional Budget Office – this is the office that will estimate how much the legislation will cost for the federal government. The CBO has yet to release its estimates, and until it does, there will be no vote.

This current version of the health care bill does not include a public option (health insurance for all Americans provided by the government). However, the L.A. Times reports President Obama has been talking with Senate leaders about government-run healthcare.

The Senate Finance Committee has already voted against two different amendments (sponsored by two different Democratic Senators) that include a government-sponsored health insurance option. Sen. Max Baucus, a Democrat from Montana and the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, was one of those “no” votes. 

Can’t wait to see what happens in the upcoming weeks as the Democrat-Republican and Democrat-Democrat tensions continue to escalade in the health care debate.