HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Democrats scratch for health votes
Hoping to pass healthcare legislation as soon as possible, House Democratic leaders are trying to get the votes of skeptics in their own party.
BY DAVID LIGHTMAN AND WILLIAM DOUGLAS
dlightman@mcclatchydc.com
WASHINGTON -- Democrats in the House of Representatives struggled Friday to find enough votes to pass sweeping healthcare legislation as lawmakers prepared for an all-day debate and perhaps a final vote on the bill Saturday.
President Barack Obama was scheduled to visit Capitol Hill early Saturday to give the House's 258 Democrats a pep talk and a push to back the top priority on his 2009 domestic agenda -- although White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama's schedule is subject to change.
Democratic leaders Friday found increasing numbers of their conservative and moderate caucus members -- even some liberals -- ready to vote no for a variety of reasons, including concern about the bill's abortion and immigration policies as well as qualms about its economic impact. In addition, the entire House will be up for election next year.
UNCOMFORTABLE
A lot of Democrats said they don't feel comfortable.
``I don't think there are 218 votes there right now,'' said Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., citing the number needed to pass the House. Davis, who is running for governor of Alabama next year, planned to vote no because of concerns about the bill's impact on business, and its funding.
The bill would create a government-run health insurance plan, or public option, to compete with private insurers.
People could hold onto the coverage they now have, while a health exchange, or marketplace, would be created so consumers could easily shop for policies.
Insurers wouldn't be able to deny anyone coverage because of preexisting conditions and couldn't charge anyone higher premiums solely because of gender.
COST ESTIMATES
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that, under this legislation, by 2019, 96 percent of eligible Americans would have healthcare coverage, up from the current 83 percent.
The CBO estimates the plan's 10-year cost at $891 billion, financed by tax increases and spending cuts, and that it would reduce the federal budget deficit by $109 billion over 10 years.
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