THE ASTERISK IN THE SENATE – AT 8:21 A.M. ET:  Action on health care now shifts to the Senate, but some of the news stories describing what will happen there leave out a critical point.  The future of the process may depend on one man – Vice President Joe Biden.

The Senate parliamentarian will be asked to rule on whether the Senate can simply ratify "fixes" to the health-care bill voted by the House last night, or must send its own actions back to the House again, which would open up the health-care debate in the House once more. 

Republicans are optimistic that the parliamentarian will rule in their favor on some items, meaning opening House debate once more.  But the parliamentarian's word isn't final.  Vice President Biden, in his position as president of the Senate, can overrule the parliamentarian.  If he does, the Senate will simply approve the House's "fixes" by simple majority, defying a ruling by the parliamentarian and substituting the vice president's political ruling.  Sparks will fly, but will Americans care?

March 22, 2010