House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, in a briefing with reporters today, said it is "feasible" for House and Senate leaders to reach a compromise and pass health care legislation within the next 15 days. That's an important number because if Republican Scott Brown wins today's special election in Massachusetts to fill the senate seat vacated by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy he would have to be seated within the next 15 days.
When asked what the close race says about the state of the Democratic party Hoyer said he doesn't need a special election in Massachusetts to know the American people are angry and concerned about the direction of the nation. He says it's a tough time to have a special election because of the anger and the fact that people are looking to get out of this ditch.
If Brown wins the race Democrats will have to make some tough decisions on how to proceed with health care. One option would be to have the House consider the Senate bill, but pro- life Democrats led by Rep. Bart Stupak have already said the legislation doesn't meet their requirements on prohibiting the public funding of abortion.
Meanwhile, Hoyer also took the opportunity today to offer the top objectives of House Democrats in the new year. Ironically health care wasn't on the list. Instead job creation and stabilizing the nation's financial posture top the leadership's agenda.