What's Next for Healthcare Reform?

By Lindsay Beyerstein

December 30, 2009

The Senate passed its healthcare bill in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had to make major compromises to secure the votes of fence-sitters like senators Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman. Reid sacrificed the public option to keep Lieberman on board and tightened the bill's abortion restrictions to placate Nelson.

Next, representatives from the House and the Senate will merge their respective bills in a conference committee, creating a single piece of legislation that both houses will vote on. If the conference report passes both houses, it will proceed to the president's desk to be signed into law. Conference will start after the winter recess. The whole process could be complete by late January.