The following was taken from The Family Research Council (http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WU09K14&f=PG07J01):

 Washington Update 

Senator Reid's Weekend Warriors


For Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and his party, Saturday night is a date with destiny. He and his fellow Senators will take to the floor tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. (ET) for what's certain to be a primetime drama over the fate of the President's health care overhaul. What happens to the Senate's version for reform rests almost entirely on the motion to proceed, a procedural vote that requires 60 Senators' approval to pass. When asked about the Democrats' chances yesterday, Sen. Reid told reporters, "We will find out when the votes are taken." Even this morning, Sen. Reid has been coy about his chances for success--and rightly so.

Tomorrow night, the Senate leadership has absolutely no margin for error. The bill may only have the support of 35% of voters, but Sen. Reid will need 100% approval from his party--and then some--to jump the bill's first real hurdle. Without every Democrat and Independent on board, the motion to proceed will fail, closing the door on debate in next week's session. At least a dozen Democrats are feeling the heat from their home states on this issue, and each will be particularly vulnerable if they vote with Sen. Reid to proceed. They need to hear from you today! Most of the offices will be closed on Saturday even if there is action on the Senate floor. We need you to make the difference in this vote right now. Call your senators this afternoon and tell them that there's no reason to proceed on a bill that bankrolls abortion, hikes taxes, penalizes married couples, cuts Medicare, fines employers, and makes Washington the ultimate authority on patients' care! If you live in the following states, please make an extra effort to get your friends and family on the phone with these Democratic Senators:

  • Nebraska's Ben Nelson (202-224-6551),
  • Pennsylvania's Bob Casey (202-224-6324),
  • North Dakota's Kent Conrad (202-224-2043),
  • Arkansas's Mark Pryor (202-224-2353) and Blanche Lincoln (202-224-4843),
  • Louisiana's Mary Landrieu (202-224-5824),
  • South Dakota's Tim Johnson (202-224-5842),
  • Indiana's Evan Bayh (202-224-5623),
  • West Virginia's Robert Byrd (202-224-3954),
  • Virginia's Jim Webb (202-224-4024) and Mark Warner (202-224-2023),
  • Missouri's Claire McCaskill (202-224-6154), and
  • Nevada's Harry Reid (202-224-3542).