Senate Passes Reconciliation

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Mar 25, 2010 9:20PM

The U.S. Senate today passed a package of changes to the health care reform bill passed earlier this week (and signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday). After a series of procedural maneuvers brought by the GOP, the bill passed by a final tally of 56-43. Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris (who at one point last year threatened to vote 'no' on the bill), both Democrats, each voted in favor of the bill. Just as with the main bill's passage in the House, Republicans voted unanimously against the bill. They were joined by three Democrats: Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. There was one no-vote by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) who was sick. Minor tweaks of the bill - necessary after Republicans pointed out two provisions violated congressional budget rules - mean that the bill must once again pass the House before it goes to President Obama to sign into law. The House first approved the Reconciliation bill on Sunday night by a vote of 220-211.