2nd Senate Vote Nudges Health Care Bill Forward

Democratic leaders nudged their health care compromise a step closer to pre-Christmas passage this morning, easily clearing their second critical hurdle. The Senate voted 60-39 to shut off debate on Majority Leader Harry Reid's version of the bill, with no Republicans in favor.

The final 60-vote hurdle, which would end debate on the bill itself, is expected tomorrow afternoon, starting a 30-hour countdown to a night-before-Christmas vote on the bill, which needs only a simple majority to pass. Still, the final outcome remains unpredictable because the Senate measure must be reconciled with a starkly different—and more liberal—bill already passed by the House of Representatives. That is likely the most difficult step before Obama can sign the legislation into law. (More Senate stories.)