U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois told Evanston Chamber of Commerce members this morning that the health insurance reform legislation in Washington is stalled because of a dispute between the House and Senate over how to pay for the plan.

Durbin says he hopes the impass can be resolved later this year — possibly through the use of a budget reconciliation process, which would create the possibility of passing the legislation by a simple majority vote in the Senate, instead of the 60 votes needed now to cut off debate.

Bill Smith is the editor and publisher of Evanston Now.

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  1. I thought the Democrats’ new mantra was jobs?
    Today, Obama admitted healthcare may die on the hill.

    And here, Durbin tells the Chamber the Democrats’ so-called healthcare reform has stalled because of an impasse between the House and Senate??? Impasse or Massachusetts miracle?

    Hey, did somebody ask Durbin who the Democrats will bribe next for more votes? How pathetic – the Democrats had a supermajority and still couldn’t get anything done, but they had plenty of time blaming Bush, Republicans, Fox News, Sarah Palin and “teabaggers.”

    BTW-did Durbin talk about jobs at the Chamber meeting? Afterall, that is the primary focus of the Chamber of Commerce – business – not some 2,500 page cut and paste document of conniving and convoluted healthcare reform that NOBODY understands.

    Perhaps Durbin cheerfully lectured the Chamber of Commerce about the only growth industry in Illinois – government.

    Jan Schakowsky is on record saying she wants to end private health insurance, altogether.

    Is it November yet?

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