The truth is non-partisan

Now that Scott Brown has won the Senate seat in Massachusetts, the House of Representatives is considering passing the Senate health care bill unamended. 

Brown's victory means that Republicans in Senate have enough votes to deny Democrats their 60-seat Senate supermajority. The GOP will be able to block future Senate votes on health care and other Democratic priorities. 

Since the Senate has already passed a version of the health care bill, Democrats in the House are considering passing the Senate bill without alterations.    

As reported by CNN, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters that the Senate health care bill is "better than nothing."

If the House passes the Senate bill as currently written, however, the measure could proceed straight to President Obama to be signed into law.

Before Christmas, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the idea of passing an unamended version of the Senate bill. At the time, she pointed to a number of key differences between the Senate and House bills.

However, it appears she has changed her mind.  Pelosi said, "Whatever happens in Massachusetts, we will have quality, affordable health care for all Americans, and it will be soon."

Several Democratic congressional sources told CNN that the White House had laid groundwork for the idea of House approval the Senate bill.  This would be the best of a series of bad options, according to Democrats.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/19/health.care/

// posted by John Fisher @ 10:47 PM