Scott Brown

Mid-January, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) were in the finish of finalizing a sweeping reform that would bring health care to a majority of the 46 million Americans who today lacks a safety net should they fall ill and need hospital care. But after Scott Brown won a surprise victory in the Bay State senate race, Democrats are faltering.

Fearing a defeat would lead to decades without health care reform, liberals are renewing the push for a public option. Some 20 senators have signed a pledge calling for a vote including public option in a reconciliation vote on the senate floor. A reconciliation vote only needs 51 votes to be approved, thus do not need the filibuster-proof 60 votes majority.

President Obama has set his hopes to a televised Health Care Summit come February 25. Obama has invited top Republicans and top Democrats to discuss the way forward. If Democrats will fail to reach a solution early March at the latest, health care reform is poised to go down in flames.

Written by Marcus Oscarsson 

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