Dems, White House predict success on health-care bill

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House and Democrats are confidently predicting Senate passage of President Barack Obama's health overhaul by Christmas after the bill cleared its second 60-vote test.

"The finish line is in sight," Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said today at a press conference with other Senate leaders and cheering supporters. "We're not the first to attempt such reforms but we will be the first to succeed."

At the White House, spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "Health-care reform is not a matter of if. Health-care reform is now a matter of when."

Senate Democrats remained united early today behind their compromise bill, over steadfast Republican opposition. A motion to shut off debate and move to a vote on a package of changes by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid passed 60-39.

The final 60-vote hurdle, limiting debate on the bill itself, is expected to be cleared Wednesday afternoon. That would start a 30-hour countdown to a night-before-Christmas vote on the legislation, which needs only a simple majority to pass.