Hope for Bipartisan Deal Lingers, but Reconciliation Talk Increases

• By Emily Heil
• Roll Call Staff
• Aug. 23, 2009, 12:34 p.m.

Senators from both parties are holding out hope for a bipartisan health care bill, but with a deal still elusive Democrats are eyeing an unpopular proposal to pass reform legislation under budget rules that would require the measure to get only 51 votes.