"The Senate majority is playing politics on the issue," he said.

The former Senate majority leader talks about health care reform.

"It should be no surprise to anyone that the members of the Senate majority are running their own campaign," he said.

A lawyer, he had been a counsel to the Senate majority since 1985.

In that role, he helped the party regain the Senate majority.

It asks which political party - as of next month, remember - holds the Senate majority.

A two-thirds Senate majority is required to approve the plan.

He added, "I expect the Senate majority will do the same."

The government was returned at the election of 11 July 1987, but still without a Senate majority.

But there's something important in the way the Senate majority has been able to hold together amid the cacophony this week.