While the Senate Democrats and Republicans are currently playing nice-nice during the opening debate on the Health care reform bill, it is anyone's guess as to when this comes to an end. They are currently allowing for alternating speeches, amendments and the like. It makes me pine for the good 'ole days when Senators acted as legislators and not children needing supervision.  However, there has yet to be a vote on any substantial issue re: Health Care.  I can only guess what will happen if a GOP amendment happened to pass during debate.  You see the Majority Leader has priority recognition which means he can effectively control the floor as to speeches, amendments, etc....This heavy handed playing of traffic cop might be seen earlier rather than later if the Leader feels like he is losing control of the bill, or feels the need to speed up the debate.

Remember there are about 10 session days before there will be a stack of vital pieces of legislation, having passed the House, awaiting Senate action. However, the Majority Leader will have to tread very lightly on this force of hand as to not irritate some on his side with this somewhat offensive maneuver.  Remember, there are several more procedural votes requiring 60 Senators in order to continue health care in the Senate.  Readers may not remember but the Majority Leader can probably recall using this heavy handed muscle control of the floor when the Senate debated Immigration reform a couple of summers ago.  It led to the defeat of the bill in the Senate.  YIKES!

Elizabeth Letchworth is the Owner-Founder of GradeGov.com, 4 times elected United States Senate Secretary for the Majority/Minority, U. S. Senate-retired, presently senior legislative advisor @ Covington & Burling, LLC