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Updated 12/22/2009 12:58 PM

Senate Health Care Bill Passes Second Procedural Vote

By: NY1 News

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A day after Democrats prevailed in a test vote to block a Republican filibuster, the health care reform bill passed another procedural vote in the U.S. Senate.

Senate Democrats pushed a last-minute package of Democratic amendments through with 60 votes.

One more procedural vote is on tap for tomorrow with a final vote on track for Christmas Eve.

The bill picked up some big support yesterday from the American Medical Association, whose president said a lack of insurance prevents far too many Americans from having good medical care.

The Congressional Budget Office says the Senate bill would extend health coverage to more than 30 million Americans, and reduce the federal deficit by $132 billion over the next 10 years.

President Barack Obama praised the first vote yesterday, saying, "By standing up to the special interests, who've prevented reform for decades, and for furiously lobbying against it now, the Senate has moved us closer to reform that make a tremendous difference for families, for seniors, for businesses and for the country as a whole."

If passed, the Senate's bill would have to be combined with the House of Representatives version passed in November.

The two bills contain significant differences including abortion language and the now defunct public option.

Republicans are still criticizing the bill, saying it is being rushed.