The Senate on Wednesday will move ahead with a procedural motion to start debate on a healthcare reform bill, even though five Republican senators have said they will oppose it.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters Tuesday that he still expects to hold a final vote on the healthcare bill this week. He added he hopes to hold a vote tomorrow on a critical procedural motion needed to start debate.
Normally such procedural motions are routinely passed, but five GOP senators have dug in and will oppose it because of problems they have with the health bill.
Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Dean Heller of Nevada, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin have each said they cannot vote to proceed to the bill.
