US Senate all set to pass the landmark Health Care bill

The US Senate is giving President Barack Obama an early Christmas Present in the form of the landmark health care bill which will be passed by voting the legislation that promises to extend medical coverage to 31 million Americans.

The US Senate is giving President Barack Obama an early Christmas Present in the form of the landmark health care bill which will be passed by voting the legislation that promises to extend medical coverage to 31 million Americans.

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Barring any last minute surprises, the bill is expected to be voted with a comfortable margin. The voting had been rescheduled to 7 pm on Thursday (1730 IST) which is several hours earlier than the previously decided time so as to give the Senators time to leave for their respective States for christmas celebrations a day later.

The series of procedural votes in the run up to the final vote this morning indicate that bill will be passed by a 60-40 vote margin.

The US House of Representatives has already passed the bill and the legislation will have to make do with the senate version.

"There are a lot of provisions that are both in the Senate and the House bill. I actually think that reconciling them is not going to be as difficult as some people may anticipate," US President Barack Obama, said adding that he would be actively involved in its reconciliation process.