Republican Brown Takes Massachusetts Senate Seat

Massachusetts State Senator Scott Brown (R) has defeated his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, to win control of a United States Senate seat that for decades was occupied by the late Ted Kennedy (D), a liberal Democrat. With 100 percent of precincts counted, Brown led Coakley by a 52 percent to 47 percent margin.

The old adage, 'all politics is local,' may not have applied as much as it normally does to the race between Brown and Coakley. Many, who watched as Brown erased a 30 point deficit in the polls over the last few weeks, viewed his victory as a referendum on what has taken place in Washington under the direction of the Obama administration and the Democrats in Congress. Not coincidentally, Brown's ascension to the Senate puts an end to the Democratic super-majority in that chamber. Lacking 60 votes, the prospects of passing a national health care reform bill are all but dead for the Democrats.

However, it remains to be seen how Brown's triumph will affect President Barack Obama's strategy on health care. On Wednesday, Obama's presidential campaign director David Plouffe said, "We have a good health care plan...We need to pass that. We have to lead."

Brown, who replaces Democrat Paul Kirk, who was appointed to Kennedy's seat following his death, will serve the remainder of Kennedy's term, and will face re-election in 2012.

House Democrats Uncertain If Health Care Bill Will Reach Conference Committee

Leading House Democrats could not confirm Tuesday whether Congress will avoid reconciling the two legislative bodies’ health care reform legislation within a conference committee.

“We don’t even know yet if there’s going to be a conference,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) during a press conference Tuesday. “It’s not clear yet whether or not that’s going to happen.”

It has been rumored in recent days that Congress may seek to hold private negotiations with House and Senate leaders as an alternative to the conference, a possibility that critics charge will eliminate transparency.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) waved away such concerns.

“There has never been a more open process for any legislation in anyone who has served here’s experience,” the Speaker said.

Senate Will Stay In Session Christmas Eve For Health Care Vote

The Senate will remain in session Christmas eve to continue debate on health care reform legislation.

“We will be here Christmas eve completing work on this bill,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday afternoon following his party’s policy luncheon. “I think it’s important that we take the time to analyze it every way we can before the final votes are taken in the Senate.”

While the rules of the Senate provide 30 hours of debate following cloture, there were hopes among Senate Democrats that the minority party would accept an agreement to move the vote up to Wednesday.

Earlier Tuesday, McConnell stated on the Senate floor that he and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would pursue an agreement to bring the health care reform debate to a sensible end.

"[Reid and I] are working on an agreement that will give certainty to the way to end this session,” said McConnell. “Hopefully, the two of us together can be recommending something that makes sense for both sides in the not too distant future.”

McConnell could not confirm when he expects the Senate to hold their vote on the 24th.

Health Care Vote May Take Place Prior To Christmas Eve

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) stated Tuesday that the Senate may not hold it’s landmark vote on health care reform Christmas eve. Instead, the body could put the legislation up for its final vote Wednesday.

“Certainly with the ice storms coming ... we hope we can finish tomorrow and not have to do Christmas eve,” Reid said during a late morning press conference.

“But we’ll do whatever is necessary,” the Majority Leader added.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested on the floor Tuesday that his party may back holding the vote sooner than initially planned.

“[Reid and I] are working on an agreement that will give certainty to the way to end this session,” said McConnell. “Hopefully, the two of us together can be recommending something that makes sense for both sides in the not too distant future."

Senate Republicans Will Try To Slow Health Care Bill

Travis Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says he’s ready to do everything within his power to slow down the passage of health care reform.

“It is our intention not to pass this bill easily,” said McConnell. “I have a practice of not telegraphing procedural moves that may be available to us…I don’t think anyone’s missed it. We don’t think this bill should pass.”

McConnell alluded to speculation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will unveil his latest version of health care reform early Saturday morning, with a cloture vote to follow promptly if the Senate expects to make its Christmas deadline.

The Leader explained that he along with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would demand that every change be read on the floor.

“If we have seen it don’t you think we should have time to at least examine it? I don’t think it would be outrageous to ask for a bill to be read that we have seen that affects one seventh of our gross domestic product,” said McCain.