Now that the calendar has changed to 2010, what's next on the biggest legislative agenda item for the White House, health care reform? A lot of work might still be the answer for Democrats.
When Congress broke for the holidays, the Senate had approved a health care bill on a 60-39 vote on the morning of Christmas Eve.
For those of you not keeping score at home, the House passed its bill back in November.
So, according to all of your government classes in both public and private schools, that means we will have a House-Senate Conference Committee to work out the differences.
Bzzzzzzt. Not true.
Yes, most bills have a Conference to come up with a final version, but that seems unlikely for a variety of reasons on the health care issue.
One reason is that in the Senate, a variety of parliamentary hurdles can be thrown in the way of plans to set up a House-Senate Conference, which would delay action for months.
Instead, expect key Democrats in the House and Senate to start closed door meetings in coming days on the differences between the two health care bills.
SOURCE: Jamie Dupree
