The reform of American health care system, the cornerstone of the beginning of the Obama presidency, has reached a new milestone Monday with a positive vote of 60 Democrats elected to the Senate.
This vote, acquired at night, avoiding the obstruction (Filibustering) from the Republicans that would have prevented the adoption of the law before Christmas.
With the announcement of the election, Democratic lawmakers have given the accolade, while their Republican colleagues quickly left the chamber.
"We will vote this text before Christmas. This will be one of the best Christmas gifts ever offered by Congress to the American people," said Democratic Senator Tom Harkin.
The vote Monday was the first in a series of three procedural steps leading to final adoption of the bill by the Senate before Christmas. Another election will be held Tuesday morning, and last Wednesday afternoon.
A Democratic senator hesitated, Ben Nelson announced Saturday that he would agree eventually vote for the bill the Senate Health, following marathon negotiations that led to a compromise.
The 60 elected representatives of the 100 Senate seats, was crucial to adopt a law for using such a threshold.
DELICATE NEGOTIATIONS
It may well that the draft of the Senate be adopted in plenary on Thursday, the eve of Christmas. But should the legislation rallied less than 60 votes, he would return next year, which would give time for Republicans to consolidate their cons-attack.
When the Senate adopts its own bill on health reform, it should merge with that adopted November 7 by the House of Representatives.
For this delicate negotiations lie ahead. When a compromise has been reached, it must still be passed by both houses of Congress for Barack Obama to sign it.
Interviewed Sunday by CNN, Ben Nelson of Nebraska elected, warned: if the final version submitted to Congress contains a section of public insurance, he would vote against.
The draft law prepared by the Senate plans to extend medical coverage to 30 million Americans who have yet to broaden the scope of the Medicaid program, for the poor, or to prohibit companies d 'insurance to refuse a contract to a person with a medical history.
Opinion polls indicate a majority of Americans opposed the reform.