Dem. Senators Push to Pass Health Care Bill

A health care overhaul bill has headed for the senate floor. Some lawmakers say senators must pass it by the end of the year so they can concentrate on the economy and job creation.

The reprimand following the senate vote Saturday was procedural, but also symbolic. Democrats can't celebrate yet.

Party leaders now have the tough task of convincing four conservative democrats, Lieberman, Landrew, Lincoln and Nelson to support the bill, giving them the 60 votes needed to block a republican filibuster. The democrats, who oppose a public option, voted Saturday to continue the debate, not endorse the bill as is.

Amendments are sure to come, and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar knows it. Klobuchar told FOX 9 that she is committed to savings, public option or not.

"If it does include one, it should be tied to cost reform, because if you don't tie it to cost reform, then you don't have the kind of results we want in the system," said Klobuchar.

The senate bill is priced at nearly $850 billion over 10 years, and would extend coverage to 31 million more Americans.

It costs less and covers fewer than the house version, but republicans are not on board. Political Analyst Kathryn Pearson says democrats will do all they can to attract those on the fence, and get a big legislative win before a big election.

"Democrats know it will be problematic to go into 2010 election having done nothing on health care," said Pearson.