WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has until Saturday to stitch a 60-vote healthcare compromise if a Christmas Eve vote is to be taken, aides said.
Reid needs commitments from several senators by Saturday night if the Nevada Democrat is to begin the procedural steps required to finish the bill by Christmas Eve, Politico reported.
Right now, the Washington publication said, the voting time table is: 1 a.m. Monday, 7 a.m. Tuesday, 1 p.m. Wednesday and 7 p.m. Christmas Eve.
But Reid still has no text and no cost analysis to share.
Moderate Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., who rejected compromise language on abortion funding as not being restrictive enough, said he doubts a bill can pass by Christmas. Nelson hasn't given any a hint of how he'll vote.
"I don't have a timetable to (decide)," Nelson told Politico. "We're still working on language, and a number of issues are under consideration right now that I've requested. And we'll have all that information back and see the (Congressional Budget Office) numbers on the package that was sent over a week ago. Then we'll look at everything, and I'll make my decision."
Reid spokesman Jim Manley said the majority leader wasn't "unduly alarmed" by Nelson's concerns and is "working to address" them.
