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US Senate Democrats united early Monday 21 December to pass the first of three planned votes on a massive $871 billion health care bill. The vote was 60-40 with all Republican senators voting against the bill. The vote was necessary to overcome a threatened Republican filibuster.

The Senate votes 22 December on whether to include compromise language in the bill, and it votes 23 December on closing debate on the bill itself. Each of these votes must be passed with a 60-vote majority before the vote takes place on the health bill itself: it needs a simple majority vote to pass and can take place before Christmas.

Comprehensive health care reform has been President Barack Obama’s declared goal as president.

Links to other sites: CNN, Los Angeles Times