All Eyes on MA - Especially the Dems

It's a Senate race in Massachusetts - but the nation is watching - especially the Democrat-controlled Congress.  The fact is that if the Republican Scott Brown wins the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, Democrats know that the government-run health care proposals under consideration in Congress are in jeopardy.

And, the question becomes - if Brown wins - will the Democrats take extraordinary action to ram health care through - without a vote from the newly elected Senator? 

Given the close relationship between this race and the health care issue, there are a number of various possibilities on where this debate goes from here.

First, if Martha Coakley wins the seat, the margins in the Senate are essentially unchanged, because interim Senator Paul Kirk also supports the bill.  Under this scenario, the Senate would still have the requisite 60 votes needed to approve the measure and would proceed to try to finalize a bill that could clear both chambers.

However, is Scott Brown wins, it would essentially create a situation where the Senate no longer has the votes to approve the bill.  This should spell the end of debate on this measure, and restart the conversation on the best way to address the real problems with health care without resorting to government-run care. 

Somewhat shockingly, though, there are preparations underway to essentially ignore the will of the Massachusetts people by forcing a final version of the bill into law without allowing the new Senator a chance to vote on it.

There are two main ways this could occur:

First, the House and Senate could both attempt to rush the final version of the bill through before the newly-elected Senator is able to present his certification of election.  This would allow the interim and non-elected Senator Paul Kirk to vote for the people of Massachusetts instead of the Senator they have just elected.

The second option would be for the House to take up and approve the version of the bill that the Senate previously passed, without amendment.  Clearly, this result is the same, as the legislation would be approved without allowing the new Senator a chance to vote on it.

Both of these scenarios would be a shocking abuse of power.  The American people must insist that the winner of this election be allowed a vote on this sweeping legislation.

One final consideration is if the race ends too close to call and a recount ensues.  In this scenario, and given the magnitude of the pending takeover of health care, the House and Senate should both allow the process to play out, in order for the appropriate Senator from Massachusetts to be provided an opportunity to participate.

Consider what Democrat leaders are saying about this.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that Democrats would press ahead on health care whatever the outcome in Massachusetts.  "Let's remove all doubt that we will have health care one way or another. Back to the drawing board means a great big zero for the American people," Pelosi told reporters in California.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer expressed a willingness to consider taking up the Senate bill.   "I think moving ahead on health care is essential. ... I think clearly the Senate bill is better than nothing," he said. Asked if it would be possible to pass legislation in the 15-day mandatory window during which the Massachusetts election is certified, Hoyer said, "Yes."

We will bring you additional updates as they become available.