Senate Inches Forward

On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid acknowledged what had become obvious in recent days " that the full Senate would not vote on health care in August.

"It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through," Reid said.

But he said the Senate Finance Committee would produce a bill and work on it before the August recess begins.

Still, many members of Congress have raised concerns about leaving incomplete legislation unfinished over the summer to be picked apart.

Emanuel dismissed the idea that this would bring down the bills, noting that 14,000 people a day lose their health insurance.

"The public wants health care reform that fundamentally doesn't put the insurance companies in control of the process, which is where they fundamentally are," he said.

He also said lawmakers would welcome hearing from people in their districts about the issue. "Hearing from constituents will

. . . not be the same as hearing from the special interests,” he said.

Fate Of The Overhaul

At the end of the day, Emanuel expects a bill-signing ceremony.

“We will have a bill by the end of the year for the president to sign on health care that controls costs, expands coverage and provides choice,” Emanuel said.

But he declined to predict how, exactly, the president and Congress would get there.