ObamaCare Fight Ends with Whimper

After a year of strum und drang, the Senate has passed the reconciliation rider containing the various “fixes” to the bill by a comfortable 56-43 margin, with Blanche Lincoln, Ben Nelson, and Mark Pryor joining all the Republicans in voting against.

Because of a parliamentary ruling on a provision dealing with student loans, it actually has to go back to the House for re-passage in this form. But there won’t be any more drama on the legislative front.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. A rather odd title for the post.

    “Obamacare” hasn’t even started yet, and certainly has not ended.

    “GOP opposition to …” or “The Fight over …” might be more accurate.

  2. James Joyner says:

    Your objection has been noted and logged.

  3. sam says:

    it actually has to go back to the House and then back again to the Senate

    Uh, if the House passes it exactly as is, why must it go back to the Senate?

    Er, it wouldn’t. I’m so used to the Senate following the House that I naturally added that. Fixed now. – JJ

  4. PD Shaw says:

    sam, the democrats are using a procedural trick to keep healthcare on the front pages through the November elections. It’s that popular now that it’s passed.

    No, I got nothing.

  5. Mithras says:

    The only thing that will unite Americans across the political spectrum is the loathing we’ll feel when the Republicans and Democrats campaign on the evils and virtues of this law from now until November.

  6. Frasier says:

    Nelson really is a piece of work. He thought he pulled a political work of genius in getting his cash and his hospital and now he’s simply looking like the biggest operator around.

  7. Mr. Prosser says:

    Sturm, mein Freund. By the way, it passed the House again.