The Vermont state Senate has now passed the single payer healthcare bill, and, assuming no problems in conference committee, will shortly head to the governor’s desk, where he has promised to sign it.

Of course, the whole thing is dependent on getting a waiver from HHS, and I’m dubious of that bit, because Obama has shown himself to be the FIRE (Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate) sector’s bitch, and you can be sure that the insurance companies will be trying to do whatever they can to drive a stake through the bill’s heart.