Wednesday, March 3

Healthcare 2010.

The closing ceremonies.

ADDED: This analysis hints at an Eastertime push, much like the Christmas Eve maneuvering that gained a temporary win in the Senate last year:

{T}here's no guarantee that the promise letter from Senate Democrats will reassure those in the House's larger, more ideologically diverse Democratic caucus. Conservative Democrats may worry about the political fallout of using reconciliation even for the sidecar bill, and liberals will still likely not get a public option and find that premium benefit plans enjoyed by some would be taxed to pay for newly mandated coverage for all individuals.

Additionally, Republican lawmakers have threatened to swamp any finalized bill with amendments, forcing Democrats into time-consuming debates and votes that the GOP hopes can drag the endgame into another August recess, which would unleash new waves of town hall tumult in the run-up to the 2010 elections. Reid is reportedly seeking to have his House counterparts hand off a passed reconciliation bill by March 26. That date allows Reid to finesse the amendment question by technically leaving debate on the measure open during the Senate's Easter recess, when Republicans are not going to be around in great numbers.