If everything goes according to plan, House Democrats may get their version of a healthcare reform bill passed this coming weekend. Roll Call reports that the Democrats are planning a final vote on the legislation for Saturday evening.
There are still some procedural issues to overcome, and, no doubt, some votes to be whipped, but recalcitrant Democrats have extra incentive to get in line in time for the vote: An extended vacation. The House was scheduled to recess from Wednesday to Friday for Veterans Day, but if the bill passes on Saturday, the chamber would instead break for the whole week, according to Roll Call.
Even if the bill does pass, that doesn't mean it will be on President Obama's desk any time soon. The Senate still has to approve its version, then the two have to be merged in conference and that bill has to be voted on in both houses. And the Senate may end up delaying things for quite some time -- there's now talk that the whole process won't be finished until next year.
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