McConnell on Reid bill: "The battle has just begun"

Barring an unforeseen flip-flop, the Democrats apparently have the necessary 60 votes to pass Harry Reid's health care bill. The Dems have won a battle, but the struggle continues, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tells us.

From The Hill:

Speaking at an afternoon press conference four hours before an 8 p.m. procedural vote that would bring the bill to the Senate floor, McConnell said Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) appears to have the necessary 60 votes for the procedural motion — and that, based on Senate history, eventual passage is likely.

"Well over 95 percent of the time, I'm told, when we approve a motion to proceed to a bill, the bill is ultimately approved," McConnell said. "Most of the time, when we proceed on the bill, the bill eventually passes."

The Republican leader quickly denied his observation was an admission of defeat, promising stiff opposition up until the final vote in the near future.

"If 60 senators decide to go forward on the bill, then we're obviously going to try to change it, through the amendment process," he said. “There will be at some point, in late December or mid-January or whenever, an opportunity to have 60 votes again to see if 60 senators out of 100 want to terminate the process. The battle has just begun."

Technorati tags: politics Congress health universal health care obamacare McConnell Harry Reid