Senate GOP skeptical of chances to take down healthcare reform

By J. Taylor Rushing
The Hill
03/22/10

Senior Senate Republicans are skeptical of their chances to block major elements of a Democratic reconciliation package of healthcare reforms this week, avoiding the bold predictions of victory that have marked their statements for months.

A weeklong series of fits and starts is likely for the 153-page package that Democratic leaders will try to push through the upper chamber using reconciliation rules that will allow its passage with a simple majority of 51 votes. Republicans have threatened for months to make the process as grueling as possible, challenging the bill on virtually a line-by-line basis.

“We’re going to go sentence-by-sentence through however many pages there turns out to be, and enforce the rules of the Senate, which is our responsibility,” said Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (Tenn.). “Every action we take will be a responsible action to enforce credible, significant amendments and points of order.”

But in deference to the House healthcare vote and the fact that Democrats control 59 Senate seats, gone is the bravado that marked many of the public statements by senior Republicans such as Alexander, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Minority Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and others.

(More here.)