3 months ago
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The roll call began with many of the 100 members seated in their chairs and rising to vote. Such formal voting is common with Supreme Court nominations.
Hours earlier, Democratic leaders had sealed the 60 votes necessary to proceed on the legislation, a win for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and the White House.
The last two holdouts Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana said they would vote to advance the bill.
All 40 Republicans are expected to vote "no."
UPDATE: Health Care Bill Clears First Senate Hurdle On Party-Line Vote.
Sweeping health care legislation has cleared its first hurdle in the Senate on a party-line vote.
The 60-39 vote clears the way for a historic debate after Thanksgiving on the legislation. The measure is designed to extend coverage to an estimated 31 million Americans who lack it and crack down on insurance industry practices that deny benefits.
The vote came in a rare Saturday session in the Senate.
Democrats posted 60 votes in a Senate showdown, precisely the number needed to overcome Republican delaying tactics.
The vote was a major victory for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and the White House in a year-end drive to enact the most sweeping changes to the nation's health care system in a half-century or more.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
