"The prosecution rests."

(updated below)

via @DemWarRoom:

At 9am today, @SenatorReid yielded back the Majority's debate time - about 7.5 hrs - leaving only the GOP's 8.5 hrs

In other words, it's the Senate Minority's turn to make their arguments for or against the reconciliation sidecar (PDF), the final piece needed to close out this round of health care reform.  Expect dilatory shenanigans today in the form of spurious points of order and proposed amendments on wedge issues.

Update: Indeed, the GOP was able to send the sidecar back to the House with non-substantive points of order.  See Talking Points Memo for more coverage.

A landmark day for ... education finance reform?

The big story today is, of course, the historic health care reform that passed late last night.  That said, a major but little reported aspect of the reconciliation legislation just passed by the House is not about health care at all, but about education in the form of SAFRA, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The CBO reports:

On the education side, the reconciliation proposal would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, which authorizes most federal postsecondary education programs. In particular, the proposal would eliminate the federal program that provides guarantees for student loans and replace those loans with direct loans made by the Department of Education. It would also increase direct spending for the Pell Grant program and other education grant programs. 

So what does it all mean?