If Brown wins in Mass. is Health Reform Dead?

The special election on Tuesday to fill the late Ted Kennedy's seat has everyone around the nation on the edge of their seats.  Whether you are for or against health reform you are watching closely. If Brown wins, the democrats super-majority is gone, if Coakley wins they will keep their super-majority and health reform will likely go through.

However, even if Brown wins the democrats have a few options to still pass reform:

• House passes Senate bill unchanged:   This is the most viable option.  If the House goes ahead and passes the Senate Health Reform Bill unchanged the Senate will no longer need the 60 votes to pass it again. However, many remain skeptical if the House has the 218 needed votes to pass the Senate bill. 
• Delay the Confirmation of Brown: This tactic has many Republicans worried. Massachusetts and the Democrats may delay the confirmation of Brown so the democrats still have a super-majority in the Senate.  However, Barney Frank (D-MA) has said they will not do this.
• One Republican comes on Board: The democrats will reach out to moderate republicans, such as Olympia Snowe (Maine).  If one, republican comes on board with reform it will surely pass. 
• Reconciliation:  Democrats can use this legislative process if they tie the bill to the budget.  Any bill that can be tied to and deemed necessary to the budget can bypass the need for a super-majority.  Here they would only need 51 votes, which they surely have. However, if this process is used, the bill would likely have to be stripped down and many items would be thrown out.  

If Brown wins, health care reform is not dead for democrats but it would definitely make it more difficult.  If Coakley wins, democrats will probably have it passed in the next month. Tomorrow night should be interesting to say the least.