Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D., Ark.) announced Saturday that she would vote to begin debate on a $848 billion health-care overhaul measure, putting Democrats on a path to reach a 60-vote threshold needed to approve an initial procedural motion on the bill.
Lincoln's announcement appears to give Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) the final vote needed to prevent a filibuster on the test vote. Lincoln warned that she would not support the bill in a vote on final passage if it included a "robust" public health insurance option, however.
"Although I don't agree with everything in this bill, I have concluded that I agree it is more important that we begin this debate to improve this health care system rather than simply drop the issue and walk away," Lincoln said, adding that Saturday's vote is "not my last or only opportunity to have an impact on health reform."
Lincoln's announcement came soon after Sen. Mary Landrieu (D., La.) announced that she would support the motion. Landrieu also said she had not decided whether to support passing the bill in a final Senate vote.
The vote on the procedural motion, which if approved would allow the Senate to formally begin debate on the measure after it returns from a Thanksgiving recess, is set for 8 p.m. EST Saturday.
Lincoln's and Landrieu's announcements follow a similar announcement by Sen. Ben Nelson (D., Neb.) another centrist, on Friday.
So kind of you three. Thanks.
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