Dems Clear Initial Healthcare Hurdle

ONWARD
The U.S. Senate votes 60-39 in a rare Saturday evening session to proceed with debate on historic healthcare legislation after the Thanksgiving break.

Strict Party Line Vote -- Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio was absent
Sen. Claire McCaskill AYE, Sen. Kit Bond NO
Three Democrats voted to move debate along, but still expressed concerns with details of the legislation, including a government-run public option

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN, Robert Gibbs:
"Tonight’s historic vote brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health care costs, providing stability and security to those with health insurance, and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it. The President looks forward to a thorough and productive debate."

Excerpts from SEN. KIT BOND's floor speech:
"Move over, Bernie Madoff. Tip your hat to a trillion-dollar scam. It's filled with costly budget gimmicks and asks the people of America to spend over two trillion dollars on proposals that will heap a mountain of debt on their children and grandchildren."

"It’s the economy, stupid . . . the majority doesn’t seem to be paying attention . . . The bill before us is the crowning achievement of the drive to destroy our economy and our future . . . Instead of debating how to create jobs, we’re debating a bill that will takeover one-sixth of our economy and probably kill jobs. We’re like a mosquito in a nudist colony — so many targets, we don’t know who to hit."

LLOYD SMITH, Missouri Republican Party:

"Claire McCaskill has turned her back on Missourians. Despite a recent poll showing that two-thirds of Missourians do not support the Obama-Pelosi takeover of our health care system, McCaskill joined her liberal colleagues to support a bloated 2,074 page bill that will do nothing to lower health care costs for Missouri’s families. She chose the massive tax increases, Medicare cuts, and onerous regulations of an out-of-control government over real common-sense reform. What little was left of McCaskill’s reputation as a fiscal watchdog has been forever destroyed."

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The Atlantic's Health Care Reform Debate TWEET List

Why a non-partisan health economist says the Senate bill "bends the cost curve" HERE

Cracks in the Democratic coalition HERE
AND: Senate Dems looks for three weeks of debate in December . . . look toward a mid-January vote