senate health bill

Health care reform passed a critical test Saturday night in Washington. The Senate voted 60-39 to move ahead and debate a health care reform bill.

Democrats needed every one of their 60 votes, and they will as the bill moves forward.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "A yes vote says to America, 'I know this issue is important to your family and to our country, and the Senate should, at the very least, talk about it.'"

The debate will begin after the Thanksgiving break. But a few more democrats are threatening to halt the bill in its tracks before a final vote.

Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln said, "I've already alerted the leader, and I'm promising my colleagues that I'm prepared to vote against moving to the next stage of consideration as long as a government-run public option is included."

Though republicans were outnumbered, they could have stopped the bill, and still can, if a single democrat votes no.

Both sides agree on little except for the historic nature of the challenge ahead.

Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, said, "It is truly historic legislation and will be remembered as such."

Republican Senator Lamar Alexander said, "This bill is historic in its arrogance."

Health care reform may have passed a key test in the Senate, but the Senate faces a tough fight to pass a final bill.

President Obama applauded the Senate vote and says he is looking forward to a "thorough and productive debate."