Senate HCR Bill to be Unveiled Tonight

The CBO score on the merged Senate bill is expected to be released early today, and Harry Reid is reported to be pleased with what he's seen so far.

The Senate Democrats will meet today at 5:00, where Reid will unveil the bill to the caucus, most of whom haven't seen the combined bill yet. Brian Beutler reports that "Reid may give the public 72 hours to review the bill before holding a cloture vote on a motion to proceed this weekend, though he may call for that vote slightly earlier."

WaPo reports that Reid is "cautiously optimistic" about having his 60 procedural votes.

The leader was more outspoken in describing his measure, boasting to reporters: "Of all the bills we've seen, it'll be the best: saves more money, is more protective of Medicare, is a bill that's good for the American people."

Preliminary estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the legislation's official scorekeeper, have indicated that the Senate measure would cost far less than the bill the House approved last week, while lowering the federal deficit further over the long term, said several senior Democratic aides who have reviewed the CBO data.

Democrats are hopeful about winning over at least one Republican, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, on a vote for final passage. But the Maine moderate has pledged to support a GOP filibuster at the outset because Reid's bill is expected to include a public-insurance option that she opposes.

The parliamentary vote on bringing the bill to the floor could come as soon as Friday.

Apparently Nelson and Landrieu are "warming" to Reid, and one of Nelson's demand is a bizarre one, that the anti-trust law exemption for insurance companies be preserved. If that's what it takes to get him to go along with procedural votes, it's a better trade than others, since that provision isn't likely to really reform the industry in the absence of tough regulations and the governmental structure and will to enforce them.

Stay tuned for more details as we learn them.