Democrat predicts health care victory
March 22, 2010, Monday
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A UNITED States House Democratic leader predicted that a rare Sunday session will produce one of the most significant legislative triumphs in decades: passage of a landmark bill to overhaul the health care system to provide coverage to millions of Americans who lack it.
Representative John Larson, the chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said his party has the 216 votes needed to pass President Barack Obama's top domestic policy priority in what amounts to a make-or-break vote for his presidency.
Speaking on ABC television's "This Week," Larson said, "We have the votes now - as we speak." However, no one else in the Democratic House leadership was ready to declare victory yet.
Republicans resolutely opposed to the bill did not concede defeat on Saturday, but warned they will make Democrats pay dearly in the fall elections when control of Congress is at stake if the fiercely debated measure becomes law.
"The American people don't want this to pass. The Republicans don't want this to pass. There will be no Republican votes for this bill," Representative Eric Cantor, the House's second-ranking Republican, said.
With Obama's emotional appeal from Saturday ringing in their ears, House Democratic leaders prepared for three showdown votes: on a "rule" to establish debate guidelines; on a package of changes to a Senate-passed health care bill, and on the Senate bill itself, the focus of intense national debate for months.
Democrats need 216 votes to pass each one. With all 178 Republicans and at least two dozen Democrats vowing to vote no, the vote is expected to be extremely close with little margin for any last-minute defections.
Democratic leaders appeared confident they would prevail in the House of Representatives. They pointed to Obama's emotional speech to the caucus at the Capitol on Saturday, and they cited a sense of momentum from the handful of rank-and-file Democrats who have announced their support over the past several days.
"I know this is a tough vote," the president told House Democrats, adding he also believes "it will end up being the smart thing to do politically."
"It is in your hands," Obama said, bringing lawmakers to their feet. "It is time to pass health care reform for America and I am confident that you are going to do it tomorrow."
If Democratic leaders prevail on all three House votes, Obama could sign the Senate version of the bill into law. The bill of "fixes" would go to the Senate, which hopes to pass it within the week under a procedure called reconciliation that requires only 50 votes in the 100-member body.
The parliamentary maneuvers became necessary after January's special election in Massachusetts when a Republican won the seat held for decades by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a champion of health care reform. That deprived the Democrats of their 60-vote Senate "super majority" required to block Republican legislative delaying maneuvers.
House Democrats have long insisted that senators agree to change the bill that the Senate passed on Christmas Eve.
Representative John Larson, the chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said his party has the 216 votes needed to pass President Barack Obama's top domestic policy priority in what amounts to a make-or-break vote for his presidency.
Speaking on ABC television's "This Week," Larson said, "We have the votes now - as we speak." However, no one else in the Democratic House leadership was ready to declare victory yet.
Republicans resolutely opposed to the bill did not concede defeat on Saturday, but warned they will make Democrats pay dearly in the fall elections when control of Congress is at stake if the fiercely debated measure becomes law.
"The American people don't want this to pass. The Republicans don't want this to pass. There will be no Republican votes for this bill," Representative Eric Cantor, the House's second-ranking Republican, said.
With Obama's emotional appeal from Saturday ringing in their ears, House Democratic leaders prepared for three showdown votes: on a "rule" to establish debate guidelines; on a package of changes to a Senate-passed health care bill, and on the Senate bill itself, the focus of intense national debate for months.
Democrats need 216 votes to pass each one. With all 178 Republicans and at least two dozen Democrats vowing to vote no, the vote is expected to be extremely close with little margin for any last-minute defections.
Democratic leaders appeared confident they would prevail in the House of Representatives. They pointed to Obama's emotional speech to the caucus at the Capitol on Saturday, and they cited a sense of momentum from the handful of rank-and-file Democrats who have announced their support over the past several days.
"I know this is a tough vote," the president told House Democrats, adding he also believes "it will end up being the smart thing to do politically."
"It is in your hands," Obama said, bringing lawmakers to their feet. "It is time to pass health care reform for America and I am confident that you are going to do it tomorrow."
If Democratic leaders prevail on all three House votes, Obama could sign the Senate version of the bill into law. The bill of "fixes" would go to the Senate, which hopes to pass it within the week under a procedure called reconciliation that requires only 50 votes in the 100-member body.
The parliamentary maneuvers became necessary after January's special election in Massachusetts when a Republican won the seat held for decades by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a champion of health care reform. That deprived the Democrats of their 60-vote Senate "super majority" required to block Republican legislative delaying maneuvers.
House Democrats have long insisted that senators agree to change the bill that the Senate passed on Christmas Eve.
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