Washington, November 19: The US Senate might hold a key test vote as early as this weekend on a sweeping bill to remake healthcare, a senior Democratic aide says.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was expected to unveil the legislation later on Wednesday and set the stage for a first procedural test as early as Saturday, the aide said.
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the legislation would cost 849 billion dollars over 10 years while extending coverage to 94 percent of Americans, the aide on condition of anonymity told AFP.
The measure would offer healthcare coverage to 31 million Americans who currently lack it, and cut the federal budget deficit by 127 billion dollars over the next decade, and 650 billion dollars 10 years after that.
Reid called fellow Democrats together to unveil the plan and could seek a vote as early as Saturday on proceeding to the bill — a key early test of support in the Senate, where he needs 60 votes to ensure passage of the legislation.
Several wary swing-vote Democrats have signaled that they may side with the Republicans — who are seemingly united against the plan — in opposing the measure on procedural votes.
Obama, who has a self-imposed 900-billion-dollar ceiling for the legislation, has made remaking the US healthcare system his top domestic priority, but his hopes for signing a bill by the year’s end have dwindled amid fierce opposition from Republicans and Democratic feuds.
—–Agencies