Saturday night set for initial health care vote

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Democratic Senator Harry Reid worked on the draft of the legislation for weeks.

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate has a test vote on a health care reform bill scheduled for tomorrow night.

Majority Leader Harry Reid is making no promises as he tries to round up support. With Republicans united in their opposition, Democrats need the vote of every member of their caucus to reach the 60 votes needed, and a few Democrats have so far refused to commit.

The Congressional Budget Office says the $849 billion package would provide coverage to 94 percent of the country while cutting the deficit by $130 billion in the first decade and more after that.

Republicans say the bill will end up costing more like $1.5 trillion and makes no sense. Republican objections are so strong that Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn threatened to have the entire bill read aloud to delay a vote. But he's backed off.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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