A health-care reform bill gets to the floor of the Senate. A rowdy debate will follow

DEMOCRATS in the Senate defeated a Republican attempt to block their health-care bill on Saturday November 21st, just days after Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, unveiled the long-awaited legislation, which amalgamates proposals from various Senate committees. Republicans tried, with a filibuster, to stop the measure from even proceeding to the floor, providing an early test of Democratic resolve. To get the 60 votes he needed, Mr Reid had to cajole three wavering Democrats—Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Ben Nelson of Nebraska—and their support came at a price. Republicans are calling an extra $100m doled out in federal money for Ms Landrieu’s state “the Louisiana purchase”. All three have since pointed out that a final “yea” is far from certain.

The Senate bill is similar in scope to the measure passed by the House of Representatives on November 7th, although there are differences. The Senate bill, for instance, relies much more on expanding Medicaid, the system of provision for the poor. As in the House, the Senate legislation creates insurance “exchanges” and a government-run insurance scheme that would compete with private plans, but it allows for states to opt out. Ms Landrieu and others would like to go further and adopt a “trigger” that would implement a public plan in five years, but only if private plans are no more affordable by then. Joe Lieberman, an independent Democrat, has insisted he will vote against any final bill that contains a public option “as a matter of conscience”. …