Health plans call for injection of cash from procedure tax

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Tom Coburn is backing off his threat to require that the Senate read the 2,074-page health care bill because some GOP colleagues aren’t supporting the effort.

The Oklahoma lawmaker said there’s uncertainty about whether reading the bill during Thanksgiving week would be productive. He also said that if the Republicans do decide to tie up the Senate for the dozens of hours it would take, six GOP colleagues have committed to pitching in on reading duty.

Meanwhile, the Senate will hold its first vote on health care legislation Saturday night and Democrats will need 60 votes to prevail.

Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the schedule on the Senate floor, one day after unveiling a nearly $1 trillion bill to expand health coverage.

Republicans have vowed to block passage of the measure, and Democrats must put up 60 votes to clear the way for a lengthy debate next month.