Healthcare bill clears first hurdle
China Daily | Updated: 2009-11-23 07:51
WASHINGTON: A sweeping healthcare overhaul narrowly cleared its first hurdle in the US Senate on Saturday, with Democrats casting 60 party-line votes to open debate on the biggest healthcare changes in decades.
In the first Senate test for President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, Democrats unanimously backed a procedural motion to open debate over the opposition of 39 Republicans. Republican George Voinovich did not vote.
Democrats needed 60 votes to approve the motion in the 100-member Senate and had no margin for error - they control exactly 60 votes.
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