With all of the Democrats, and Lieberman, having already agreed to vote in favor of tonight's vote to allow the healthcare reform legislation come to the floor for debate, the actual voting is pretty much a foregone conclusion, unless Olympia Snowe goes on a wild hare and decides to get all bipartisany on us.
Nonetheless, this is a rather historic event, since we haven't gotten this far on healthcare reform in the Senate, well, ever. Sen. Dodd is in the chair for the vote, in the place where Senator Kennedy would have been.
Watch:
Update: Sen. Dodd makes the call. 60 vote yea, 39 nay. The motion is agreed to.
Update 2: Voinovich was the Republican who didn't vote.
Nice little moment between Reid and Dodd just now at their presser on Kennedy--Reid had just spoken with Mrs. Kennedy, who was very pleased and told him that she was sure the Senator was there with them in spirit.
Update 3: E-mailed statement from the White House, here's Gibbs:
"The President is gratified that the Senate has acted to begin consideration of health insurance reform legislation. Tonight’s historic vote brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health care costs, providing stability and security to those with health insurance, and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it. The President looks forward to a thorough and productive debate."