The Blog

For Democrats, A Long, Hard Health Care Slog

11:20 AM, Dec 2, 2009 • By MATTHEW CONTINETTI
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The White House wanted health care reform on the president's desk by summer. It didn't happen. Nancy Pelosi got her bill through before Thanksgiving. Now Harry Reid's goal is to pass his version by Christmas. Pelosi says it would be a "Christmas present" to the "American people." (No return policy.)

But how likely is it that work on the bill will be complete by the holidays? Not very! Here's the Times's David M. Herszenhorn:

With the majority leader, Harry Reid, hoping to complete the health care bill by Christmas, he is largely at the mercy of Republicans who can easily prolong the debate well into next year, although at the risk of being accused of obstructionism.

Mr. Reid on the Senate floor Tuesday asked the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, whether all senators could agree to hold four votes on Wednesday afternoon on Ms. Mikulski's amendment; on an alternative to be offered by Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska; on a proposal by Senator John McCain of Arizona, to strip out provisions aimed at reducing Medicare spending, and a Democratic alternative to the McCain proposal.

But in a phrase that may be repeated many times in the next few weeks, Mr. McConnell said: "I have to object."

Mr. McConnell said Republican senators wanted more time to debate. And more time is what they will get.

More by Matthew Continetti

Remember, all this over just a couple of amendments. And there will be many other amendments, some of which will be extremely controversial. And Reid's majority simply isn't large enough to muscle the bill through.