The push for health care reform is moving fast and furiously, so I thought it’d be helpful to have semi-daily “Health on the Hill” updates that should help you keep track of the reform debate and get to the meat of the issue. Enjoy!

Today’s Updates – 11/25/09:

Today’s update was written by Amy Minor, CP Advocacy Intern

Happy Thanksgiving! When we, and Congress, return next week the debate over the Senate health care bill will begin. Last Saturday night the Senate voted to begin debate on health care reform with a historic 60-39 vote.  Although this is a positive start for getting health care reform passed in Congress, the final passage of the bill is a long way off and will be a battle. The disputes that took place on Saturday reveal just how difficult the task will be for the Senate to find a compromise on key issues, like abortion, immigration and a public option, in the health care reform debate.

Along with dispute over the public option, abortion funding policy is going to be difficult to tackle among Democrats. Abortion rights supporters are backing Reid’s approach in the Senate bill, which tries to preserve an option of coverage for abortion, while proposing that federal dollars may only be used in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Reid’s approach may be one of the only ways of combating the Stupak amendment, which would bar any insurance plan — private or public — from covering abortions.

You can take action against the Stupak amendment here and join us for a National Day of Action Against Stupak on Dec 2!

News Links:

Public option at center of debate

Democrats had little time to savor their weekend Senate health-care victory, as two of the lawmakers who voted to move the debate forward Saturday night indicated Sunday that they will not vote to pass the package if it includes a government-run insurance program.

Schumer: Dems ready to go-it-alone on health care

A leading Senate Democrat said Monday his party is determined to push through a health care overhaul bill with or without Republican support because the “system is broken.”

PolitiFact Smacks Down Rep. Boehner’s “Abortion Premium” Claim

As the Senate moves to take up its version of the health care reform bill, Rep. Boehner alleged that the bill levied a new “abortion premium.”  PolitiFact.com reviewed his statement.