In a surprising result from the Massachusetts Senate election, the seat once held by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who was the strongest advocate for health care reform in the Senate, has now been won by Republican Scott Brown. Brown defeated Democratic candidate Martha Coakley, seen by many pundits as not running a strong campaign. This may bring a serious blow to the final rounds of the health care reform legislation procedure, as the Democrats' 60-vote majority for smooth passage is now gone. Brown had also promised in his campaign to specifically help stop the health care reform legislation, although he did support Massachusetts reform program. That leaves the possibility of a filibuster on the Senate floor to thwart passage of the final vote.

Democrats are said to be considering a number of options in light of the election, including the House passing the final Senate bill, which would eliminate the need for a new vote, a "reconciliation" procedure, which only needs 51 votes but only applies to budgetary issues, beginning the bill drafting process again from scratch or going with a drastically reduced version of the bills with only the most popular measures of reform. As yet none of those options seem to be a front-runner and knee-jerk responses will be politically inopportune.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) stated after the election: "The people of Massachusetts have spoken. We welcome Scott Brown to the Senate and will move to seat him as soon as the proper paperwork has been received. I want to thank Senator Paul Kirk for his tremendous service over the last few months. His service to the people of Massachusetts in the place of his friend, Senator Ted Kennedy, was brief but honorable.

"While Senator-elect Brown's victory changes the political math in the Senate, we remain committed to strengthening our economy, creating good paying jobs and ensuring all Americans can access affordable health care. We hope that Scott Brown will join us in these efforts. There is much work to do to address the problems Democrats inherited last year, and we plan to move full speed ahead.

"Regardless of the size of their minority caucus, Senate Republicans have always had an obligation to join us in governing our nation through these difficult times. Today's election doesn't change that; In fact it is now more important than before for Republicans to work with us rather than against us if we are to find common ground that improves Americans' lives," Reid said.

On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi vowed to continue the work on the bills regardless of the Massachusetts outcome. "Regardless of what happens in Massachusetts, we still have to resolve the differences between our two bills. We still have to communicate with our members about the direction they want us to go with certain particular issues...But our eye is on the ball of passing legislation. In order to do that, we have to resolve some differences, establish some priorities, make some decisions, and that's what we're doing. Whatever happens in Massachusetts, we have to do that, and whatever happens in Massachusetts, we will pass quality, affordable health care for all Americans and it will be soon."

Senator Reid's Remarks: http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=321571&
Speaker Pelosi's Remarks: http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1511

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