Senate Bickers as Storm Bears Down on DC

Republicans vow to stall; Reid targets Christmas Eve health care vote
By Marie Morris,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 18, 2009 4:49 PM CST
Senate Bickers as Storm Bears Down on DC
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., talks on the phone before heading into a Democratic caucus on health care reform in the Capitol in Washington Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Even as Harry Reid plans for a Christmas Eve vote on the Senate health care bill, Republicans are vowing to stall, and a massive winter storm is roaring northeast from the Gulf of Mexico with Washington directly in its path. " It is our intention not to pass this bill easily," minority leader Mitch McConnell tells Reuters. "I think we made it pretty clear ."

Democrats need 60 votes to foil a threatened filibuster, but abortion opponent Ben Nelson remains dubious about the measure in its current form. " Hopefully, we are making progress, " he said today. Meanwhile, Virginia has already declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, the Baltimore Ravens have pushed back the start of Sunday's game, and airlines are predicting widespread cancellations and delays, CNN reports.
(More US Senate stories.)

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