Health care debate headed to Senate floor November 21, 2009 9:25 p.m. EST (CNN)

22 November 2009

Well… let’s see what happens next. Going to get the popcorn… anyone want any nachos or Mike & Ike’s?

Washington (CNN) — Health care reform backers won a key victory Saturday night as the Senate voted to move ahead with a floor debate on a sweeping $848 billion bill.

The 60-39 vote to prevent a Republican filibuster against the start of debate on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s legislation broke down along strict party lines. All 58 Senate Democrats — along with independent Sens. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont — supported bringing the measure to the floor.

Thirty-nine of the 40 Senate Republicans opposed the motion. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, didn’t vote.

“Tonight’s historic vote brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health care costs, providing stability and security to those with health insurance and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

The polarized vote set the table for a holiday season now virtually certain to be marked by acrimonious deliberations on President Obama’s top domestic priority.