Senators prepared to cast their first votes on healthcare reform and Democrats increasingly expressed optimism that they would succeed in passing a bill before Christmas, the Washington Post reports. Republicans are targeting key sections of the bill, including the nearly $400 billion in tax increases that would finance the legislation's 10-year, $848 billion cost. GOP lawmakers also are expected to propose significant changes to medical malpractice laws. To manage the expected Democratic amendments, Majority Leader Harry M. Reid and other leaders are urging their colleagues to focus only on top priorities for floor consideration, the Post reports.
