IN THE SENATE – AT 8:17 A.M. ET:  Even though President Obama is expected to sign the hath bill into law, it having passed both houses of Congress, Republicans will still try to block changes in the bill in the Senate, requiring the package of changes to go back to the House.  From The Washington Times:

President Obama on Tuesday is expected to sign into law the health care overhaul, but the battle over alterations demanded by House Democrats is just beginning in the Senate.

Republicans are preparing a series of amendments and objections to the secondary bill designed to force Democrats to take difficult political positions.

Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa said Monday he plans to introduce an amendment to require the president, Cabinet members and White House staff to buy their insurance through the government exchanges. As written, the overhaul prevents them from going to the exchanges because they get their insurance through their employer.

No chance that will pass.  Democrats consider Obama administration officials as royalty, and one doesn't tamper with royalty.

Senate Democrats are expected to have the 51 votes they need to pass the package of changes under reconciliation rules. So the drama will rest with the Senate parliamentarian, who will decide whether the Republicans' objections are legitimate, and with Republicans, who will decide how long they plan to try to block the bill.

Any change the Senate makes to the legislation would force the House to take another tough vote to pass the plan and possibly kill it.

Top Senate Democrats have said that they have asked the rank-and-file to vote against every amendment to the bill -- even if they agree with them.

Why let principle stand in the way? 

Look, these are parliamentary maneuvers.  They probably won't work, but at least the GOP is giving it a shot.  Chances are we'll have Obamacare.  And we'll have the bill that goes with it.  It will be up to the Republicans to come up with an alternative that is so well put together that the public will demand that it replace Obamacare.  Can the GOP do it?  Well, we're not talking about a bunch known for great imagination, but this will be the challenge that will define them for a long time.

March 23,  2010