KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsA big health care vote will bring senators in Washington into work this weekend

A big health care vote will bring senators in Washington into work this weekend

Preparing for weekend battle over the Democrats’ health care proposal, Republicans ramped up their criticism.

"We are on a path right now that is just absolutely reckless", warned Sen. John Thune, of South Dakota.

GOP governors meeting in Texas fear that expanding Medicaid will sink their states’ budgets further towards the red.

They’ve also accused House Democrats of budget trickery.

By voting separately to boost Medicare payments to doctors by some $200 billion, critics say Democrats are hiding the cost of reform.

"We all know a sucker play when we see one", said Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN).

Backers of the plan such as Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), don’t apologize for their overhaul.

Reid said, "It saves lives, it saves money and it saves Medicare."

Among the new taxes the plan enacts, is one on plastic surgery – what’s being called a “Bo-Tax.”

Here, patients would pay %5 extra on elective procedures – tummy tucks and implants – to raise approximately $6 billion.

Regarding cost and coverage, Democrats are threading a needle to win votes.

“We are not turning back and not turning our back on the people that are counting on us”, exclaimed Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).

Abortion coverage, always a point of contention, will be provided for in the public option…as long as no public money is used.

Democrat Ben Nelson, of Nebraska, joins Republicans in rejecting that proposal; even though last week the RNC admitted its health care plan –funded by GOP donors – has since 1991 covered elective abortions for RNC workers.

RNC Chairman Michael Steels said he’s since ended that part of the plan.

Democrats, meantime, have to bridge their own differences on abortion and other issues in order for reform to pass.

All Republicans are expected to vote nay, leaving no margin of error for Democrats.

A vote to open the heated debates comes around 8 o'clock tomorrow night.