Democratic Senators are sounding quite confident that these really are the last, final votes on health care reform and that something will be sent to President Obama’s desk for a signature soon. “We’ll have the votes to pass this,” Sen. Tom Harkin told reporters on a conference call late yesterday, referring to the Senate. He also particularly praised Speaker Nancy Pelosi for pulling in wavering Democrats to secure the needed 216 votes in the House.
“Speaker Pelosi has just done a magnificent job, she has a very tough job keeping all of her troops lined up and it’s been amazing to watch her do this,” said Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee. (Despite a looming Sunday afternoon vote, she’s not there yet, though.)
Is Harkin worried that something could go wrong and the Senate wouldn’t pass the final legislation? Nope. He said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has the 50 votes he needs and isn’t sweating it. I asked Harkin about Sen. Evan Bayh’s objections to including student loan legislation in the health care bill, and he said he wasn’t worried.
“I’ve had conversations with Senator Bayh and I believe his concerns have been adequately addressed,” Harkin said.
Follow every health care development today and this weekend on TPM’s rapidly updated Countdown to Reform wire.
