Senate Democrats Fault GOP For Failing To Advance Alternative Health Reforms
Saturday November 21, 2009 21:14:00 EST

(RTTNews) - In advance of a crucial vote Saturday, leading Senate Democrats criticized their Republican opponents for seeking to stop health reform efforts without advancing an alternative.

The Senate will vote to bring up for debate a bill, drafted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that is estimated to cost $849 billion over 10 years but would actually reduce the federal deficit by $127 billion while covering an additional 31 million of the uninsured.

Democrats will need to marshal 60 votes to overcome a republican filibuster of the motion to bring the bill to the floor for debate.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., sought to take Republicans to task for one of their chief complaints about the measure, that it is too long and complicated.

"Senate (continued...)