As the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid works frantically to muster the 60 votes required for passage of new health care reform legislation, a new USA Today/Gallup finds that public support is below the majority level. The poll which was taken between December 11-13 reveals that, 48% of Americans would advise their member of Congress to vote no to the legislation, while 46 percent say they would lean towards supporting it.
Gallup Poll: The fate of the comprehensive healthcare reform bill lies in the hands of the Senate Democratic majority (plus the two independents who vote with the party). Last week’s compromise that sought to expand Medicare in exchange for dropping the “public option” insurance plan may need to be reworked to get the Senate to the 60 votes required to overcome a likely filibuster attempt. President Obama sought to rally the Democratic senators behind a bill at a White House meeting on Tuesday.
As the year draws to a close, the debate over healthcare legislation is far from over. While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has expressed a desire to pass a bill before the end of the year, the Senate Democratic caucus still has some negotiating to do to bring a bill up for a vote that can withstand a filibuster attempt. Even if a bill passes, the House of Representatives and Senate must reconcile their two versions, which could reopen some of the more contentious debates concerning a public-option insurance plan and coverage for abortions.
