Senate Finance Committee approves proposed health plan with 14-9 vote today including Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Today, the Senate Finance Committee approved an $829 billion plan to overhaul U.S. health care which now moves the measure forward for a full Senate debate. The vote passed 14-9 and did include one Republican, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), in a vote that otherwise followed the party line.

Senate and House Democratic leaders must now merge the bills and schedule floor debates. After each chamber votes, they’ll have to reconcile their measures but the Senate Finance Committee version is the most moderate reform. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will need to meld the finance panel bill with one approved by the Senate health (HELP) committee in July which could create challenges and debate within the Democratic party. The Senate finance version does not include a so-called "public option".

With today's action, the probability for health reform moving forward before the end of the year has advanced significantly and the Senate floor debate will be critical in further shaping this phase of health reform.