More Delays for Health Care

Hope you didn’t ask for health-care reform for Christmas: New obstacles make it unlikely that the Democrats will meet their goal of passing legislation before Christmas Eve. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska rejected compromise abortion language in the bill and said he does not think the bill can pass by Christmas. Majority Leader Harry Reid, meanwhile, still has no legislative text or cost analysis to release. And the Republicans are announcing now that they’re going to do everything they can to slow the bill’s progress, including trying to require lengthy amendments to be read aloud on the Senate floor. Rumor has it Reid might schedule the vote for 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve if Republicans continue to prolong the debate.