Grassley predicts mid-November vote for healthcare reform

Healthcare reform legislation will probably face a final vote in the middle of November, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) suggested Monday.

Grassley, who as ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee has been a lead negotiator of a bipartisan health package, predicted completed legislation slightly passed the October deadline President Obama and congressional Democrats have preferred.

“If we get a bill on the senate floor by the third or fourth week of September, it’s probably going to take two weeks,” Grassley told Radio Iowa. “Probably take a month to negotiate the difference between the house and senate provisions, so I would suggest the middle of November.”

Democrats in Congress and the White House have said they expect Obama to be able to sign a bill by October, but with lawmakers adjourning for recess without passing preliminary bills, that deadline may prove difficult.

Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee which reported a marked-up version of the House health reform bill on Friday, predicted a final bill before Thanksgiving recess for lawmakers.

“It’s an ideal time for that because it’s kind of natural break…the Friday just before Thanksgiving break,” Braley told Radio Iowa.