Democrats win procedural vote on healthcare with 228 votes
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Democrats have won a key procedural vote on the healthcare overhaul, 228 to 202, setting the stage for a likely series of Democratic victories throughout the rest of the evening.
The procedural victory sets up the vote on the rule, which determines the parameters of debate.
In the early vote, Democrats passed the magic number of 216 needed to approve the rule.
If the rule is passed then the House can begin its general debate on the healthcare package.
For weeks, the battle has been over whether Democrats could find 216 votes to pass healthcare, but with the procedural victory they have demonstrated that they have enough.
The question now is whether they can hold on to the 228 or will allow some members to walk for political purposes.
--Michael Muskal
