The second of three votes prior to the final passage in the Senate of the health-care reform act came this morning, and this vote was to pass Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid manager’s amendment containing the compromise language on abortion funding.

The Senate is now in the midst of 30 hours of debate that will continue until Wednesday afternoon, when senators will vote on cloture to end debate. A final vote on the bill is set for Dec. 24 at 8 a.m.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes the bill with the Reid compromise, which allows the federal government to subsidize private insurance plans that cover abortion on demand.

Meanwhile, in the House of Represenatives, a pro-life Democrat switched parties this morning, partly over his concerns about the health-care bill.

“I believe our nation is at a crossroads and I can no longer align myself with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy, and drives us further and further into debt,” Griffith said.

Griffith’s website contains a section that explains his pro-life views: “As North Alabama’s first Radiation oncologist, I have spent my career trying to save lives.  It would go against everything I have worked for to describe myself as anything but proudly pro-life.”