Obama heralds Senate's vote on healthcare

US President Barack Obama was pleased about the recent Senate vote on healthcare. In the wee-small hours of Monday morning, Senators voted to end debate and move forward on a sweeping health reform package.

That means that one of the top planks in Obama's list of legislative priorities is on a path to passage by Christmas.

The White House is taking a victory lap, one day after a healthcare overhaul passed its first critical test in the Senate.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "The US Senate knocked down a filibuster aimed at blocking a final vote on healthcare reform and scored a big victory for the American people. By standing up to the special interests, who've prevented reform for decades, and who are furiously lobbying against it now, the Senate has moved us closer to reform that makes a tremendous difference."

Four further votes on health reform are scheduled this week before the final Senate vote on Christmas Eve.

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)