On yet another late night of work in the Senate Finance Committee on health care reform, Senators got into an interesting discussion of the short term time line on this politically explosive issue.

Committee Chairman Senator Max Baucus seemed to be saying Wednesday night that his committee would give tentative approval to a reform bill, and then send it on to the Congressional Budget Office.

After the CBO "scores" the bill and figures out how much it costs, then the Finance Committee would reconvene next week and vote on that legislation.

Baucus all but admitted he was feeling the heat from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to get things moving, that there wouldn't be any major delay while the CBO runs the numbers on whatever bill gets sent to the floor of the Senate.

Earlier in the day, Reid followed through on his threat to scrap a week off for the Senate during the week of Columbus Day, in order to keep the Senate working on health reform and other issues.

Don't cry for any Senators though, because the Senate won't be in session on that Monday and Friday, so it's just going to be a three day work week.

Meanwhile in the House, they are counting votes, literally.

Speaker Pelosi and other top Democratic lieutenants have told backers of a public health insurance option to get out there and start whipping the bill, to see how many votes they have.

It's an interesting move, because if it shows they are having trouble getting to 200 right now, then they may indeed be in trouble in the House on a bill with a public option.

One more note on the timing of any votes in the House and Senate.

The calendar may only show that today is October 1, but there really isn't much time left this year to get a health care bill finished.

Even if Democrats found the magic formula next week, it would be difficult to get something done and on the President's desk by Thanksgiving.

It's going to be a very interesting next few weeks to watch things from the cheap seats here in the Capitol.