US Sen Reid: Health Bill Easier To Pass Than Climate Change

"I think we can do a bipartisan bill," Reid said at the event. "I think health care reform is easier than all this global warming stuff, so health care may jump ahead of that."
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Reid sought to tamp down expectations for climate change legislation, which he named as the issue that would cause him the most headaches before the 2010 elections. He said he expected that the Senate would have legislation written - but not necessarily passed - by the time a climate change conference in Europe takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark in December.

"I don't know whether we'll have the bill passed by that time, I'm not too sure," Reid said. "It will have passed the house. I think we'll have probably the committee work done."

Reid outlined the process by which he expected the Senate to consider climate change legislation, saying Senate committee would take up legislation passed by the House. Committee with jurisdiction over the bill would include Environment and Public Works, Energy and Natural Resources, Foreign Relations, Commerce and Finance panels, Reid said.

He suggested the House would have an easier time passing climate change legislation than the Senate.

"I can't guarantee I can get things done," Reid said.