Senate Dems face GOP delays -- and snow -- in the next days of the health overhaul debate

The Associated Press: "Republicans threatened to delay Senate business with a health care read-a-thon this weekend, as Democrats kept searching for 60 votes to advance President Barack Obama's signature issue and a forecast of heavy snow added to the list of complications. At a news conference Friday in the Capitol, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accused Democrats of trying to ram the health care bill through with dozens of changes as yet unseen, and promised to do everything in their power to prevent it." Democrats continued to pursue the 60 votes needed to "overcome unanimous Republican opposition" -- their main target continued to be the lone Democratic holdout, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. "Meanwhile, as the weather forecast called for up 20 inches of snow in a city easily paralyzed by much less, senators were put on notice they could be needed to vote on procedural questions before 8 a.m. EST Saturday." And Majority Leader Harry Reid is expected to release a package of amendments that could tally hundreds of pages (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/18).

The Hill: McConnell criticized Reid Friday "for speeding a major healthcare overhaul through the upper chamber before Christmas." He also "made clear that he does not plan to back down next week. His tough stance makes it more likely that the Senate will vote late in the day on Dec. 24 ... if Democrats are to meet their Christmas deadline." Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., joined McConnell in the criticism, saying he was not aware of any major piece of legislation over the course of his career that was kept as secret until shortly before a vote to cut off debate" and proceed to a final consideration. "Democrats, however, have accused Republicans of obstructionism and say their delaying tactics are intended to kill the bill, not gain more time to study it" (Bolton, 12/18).