Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday night, just hours before the president's State of the Union address, began the legislative process of forcing the House-passed health care repeal bill to the Senate floor for a vote.

Using a particular Senate rule typically reserved for the leaders, McConnell bypassed committee action and put the bill directly before the members, even without the support of the Majority Leader who, for the most part, controls the legislative calendar. It is a procedure that takes a couple of days to ripen before any vote can occur, though even then it could be a fight.

McConnell's Democratic counterpart, Harry Reid of Nevada, has vowed that no such repeal vote will occur, but the Kentucky Republican has stuck to his guns, telling Fox News' Chris Wallace on Sunday, "The Democratic leadership in the Senate doesn't want a vote on this bill, but I assure you we will."

McConnell has a crack floor staff who cannot be underestimated in finding creative ways to get this vote.

A spokesman for the Democratic leadership, Brian Fallon, sent the following e-mail response, "Republicans are wasting time fighting old battles when we should be focused on creating jobs. Three out of four Americans oppose full repeal because it would re-open the donut hole on seniors and raise taxes on small businesses. We hope the Republicans will move on and work with us on common-sense measures to strengthen the middle class."

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-Ny., seemed to acknowledge the inevitability of a repeal vote, though, on Sunday on CBS's Face the Nation, but the #3 Democrat, a close Reid ally, promised that any such vote will come with a twist.

"Mitch McConnell has the right to offer an amendment," Schumer conceded, but added, "If he does...then we will require them to vote on the individual protections in the bill that are very popular and that even some of the new Republican House members have said they support. So in the end, their repeal bill is going to be so full of holes it looks like Swiss cheese."

It is unclear where the votes would stand on repeal, likely it would be close to party-line, though several Democrats have said some serious changes could be implemented. Both Sens. Joe Manchin, D-WV, and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., for instance, have said the individual health care mandate could be replaced.

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/01/25/mcconnell-starts-process-bringing-health-care-repeal-senate-floor#

We'll see what happens with this in the senate, the number of blue dog dems and reps oughta make it interesting.

Man I hate McConnell. He is an embarassment to Ky.

Three Democratic Senators said they will vote for repeal!

Does anyone else think it's strange that someone in the senate can say. No we won't vote on a bill?

??????

it says
Harry Reid of Nevada, has vowed that no such repeal vote will occur

I'm still waiting for McConnell to catch a fly with his toad. He looks like a human toad

Dirty Harry is a Dickhead.

The senate should vote on if they want to vote on the repeal crap.

So the conplainers can be over it

Especially since it will pass in the Senate. That is why Dirty Harry is fighting it so much.

It would still get vetoed but not much chance of passing the senate.

Recent news is that the actual costs of the bill are starting to be realized, even by the dems. Given a little time, say 2012, the dems may be voting against it too. It is going to cost a LOT.

It may end up being a key issue in the next election.

I doubt that is even a possibility but if they vote on if they want to vote on it and they get a no then the complainers can move on,

Actuaally three Democratic Senators are supporting repeal(for political survival purposes since most Americns are livid over the bill).

Yeah, but how would it survive a veto?

I think the symbolism of this healthcare vote better not be all these tea partiers bring! I want real fundamnetal change and if they don't start firing government employees and shutting down government agencies wholesale they won't last! Americans want results and no more brass cows! If you want social programs fine show results or get the axe! Reach across the aisle and make some consessions with the democrats and say you want programs fine but we want results! The rhetoric needs to stop on both sides and the politicians need to realize americans are getting smarter and starting to pay attention. Just blocking attempts for the president to get business done for the american people is bad business and the democrats need to learn people are not buying there rhetoric anymore. You want money for programs step up and put a plan in place that shows results for the money we invest! Not the current system like the department of education! The divide is huge and they better get to work and start solving problems or they are just as bad in my opinion!