Healthcare Reform's Fate Uncertain as Massachusetts Elects Brown
BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, JANUARY 20, 2010
Scott Brown, a Republican state senator, won Edward Kennedy's Senate seat last night in Massachusetts. He defeated Democratic favorite Martha Coakley, who just a few weeks ago seemed a shoo-in for the seat. Brown won by a "decisive margin" with 52% of the vote to Coakley's 47%.
President Obama was reported to be both "surprised and frustrated" by this turn of events, which put the Democratic agenda into question. Without a 60-40 majority, the Senate cannot overcome a filibuster that would prevent or delay a vote. Healthcare reform is particularly vulnerable, as this election comes as the House and Senate are in the middle of negotiating a compromise version of the overhaul package. It's possible that the House will pass the Senate's version of the bill, but according to the Times, several sources have said the House will not accept the Senate's bill.
An editorial in the Washington Post offered some additional analysis on the impact of Brown's seat, stressing that the 41st Republican in the Senate shouldn't be a death knell for healthcare and other priorities. It may slow the process; while President Obama targeted his State of the Union to sign the bill, that deadline is now looking unlikely. Without a filibuster-proof majority, keeping the bill alive will require continued negotiations, from both chambers, until lawmakers reach a deal.
