Democrats should pass health-care reform because it's the right thing to do.

But supporters of a compromise hope for a deal this year that could attract enough Democrats to pass.

In the House, Democrats can pass important legislation on their own.

Indeed, Democrats produced the original bill more than two years ago and almost passed a measure last year.

"It is likely we will see a 10-to-9 vote, with the Democrats passing their proposal."

The amendment passed, 16 to 14, with three Republicans helping the Democrats to pass it.

Though no one moved to cut off the debate, the event played directly into Republican charges that the Democrats could not pass a crucial bill.

Once that was done, Democrats passed laws imposing racial segregation of public facilities.

Democrats in the Assembly passed their own version of the bill earlier this week.

The Democrats had passed a raft of liberal legislation on matters from civil rights to fighting poverty.