Coburn: GOP will make 'several more' attempts to derail health bill

Senate Republicans will make "several more" attempts to derail the Democrats' healthcare reform bill like the reading of a 767-page amendment on Wednesday, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said.

Coburn, in an appearance on conservative talk show host Sean Hannity's radio program, said to expect more procedural maneuvers from the GOP.

"There will be several more attempts to derail this bill from a parliamentary standpoint by me," Coburn said. "I actually don't want to say this because somebody might be listening, and I don't want 'em to know what the next step's going to be."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) withdrew his 767-page single payer healthcare amendment on Wednesday afternoon after Republicans, led by Coburn, forced the Senate clerk to read the bill aloud. The move was intended to grind the debate over the healthcare bill to a halt.

Democratic leaders are scrambling to pass the healthcare reform bill before the Senate recesses for Christmas. President Barack Obama said on CBS' 60 Minutes this weekend that he believes the bill will pass by then. 

Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Wednesday said that Democrats are prepared to work on Christmas Day to pass the bill.

By withdrawing the amendment, Sanders allowed the debate to continue by stopping the reading. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) later expressed frustration that the reading was stopped.

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