Weather outside is frightful, but closing debate delightful!

Snow is piling up on the streets throughout the East Coast, especially in Washington, D.C. Maybe the sudden snowstorm has inspired legislators there to shake a tail feather when it comes to moving health care reform.

Really. It could almost be here. The U.S. Senate could be inching toward closing its debate and voting on health reform. The latest reports project a Christmas Eve vote, but it may come even sooner than that.

Really.

Far from perfect, far from heaven, but far from standing still, either. The Congressional Budget Office provided another assessment for the bill in the senate, and it's looking good for deficit reduction -- a biggie for anyone with children or thoughts of future bills. The Washington Post offers a great graphic analysis of the bills from the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate that need to be reconciled, should both pass.

Of course, many of these provisions are not set to take effect for a few years yet, but progress is forward-looking and movement. Tweaking along the way is the American mandate, the nation whose enduring aspiration is to "form a more perfect union."