Can Obama Coax Dems off Health Care Fence?

(CBS/AP)  Many Democrats in Congress remain wary of health care legislation in spite of President Barack Obama's closing argument for overhauling the system, well aware that success is far from assured and political perils abound in this election year.

Mr. Obama's proposal included some ideas favored by Republicans, although the Democratic president has little hope of winning over even a single Republican lawmaker. Republicans have demanded that he discard his proposals and start working with them on a new one.

However, a congressman who has played a key role in the long-running debate said he and 11 other Democrats will vote against the overhaul bill unless a provision subsidizing abortion is removed.

Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., argued Thursday that the provision in the
Senate-passed version has language that would permit the federal government to "directly subsidize abortions."

The White House hopes that by including elements of Republican plans, Mr. Obama can win over Democratic lawmakers from conservative districts whose re-election hopes in November could be jeopardized by voting for the bill. If he can generate stronger Democratic support, congressional leaders can use parliamentary maneuvers to bypass Republican objections.

"I think he has succeeded in prying open a window of opportunity, but it's a very narrow window," said first-term Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly. "And he and the leadership here had better clamber through that narrow window while they can."

In a speech Wednesday at the White House, Mr. Obama called on lawmakers to end a year of legislative struggle and angry public debate and enact legislation ushering in near-universal health coverage for the first time in the country's history. He called for an "up-or-down vote" within weeks under rules denying Republicans the ability to block the bill with a filibuster.

"At stake right now is not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem," the president said. "And so I ask Congress to finish its work, and I look forward to signing this reform into law."

The president will begin campaigning for health care legislation next week with stops in Philadelphia and St. Louis, reports CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante.

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Appearing before a select audience, many of them wearing white medical coats, Mr. Obama firmly rejected calls from Republicans to draft new legislation from scratch.

"I don't see how another year of negotiations would help," he said. "I believe the United States Congress owes the American people a final vote."

Asked to predict a timeframe, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, "The dates and time frame are really up to the leaders of Congress." Sebelius, who appeared on CBS' "The Early Show" Thursday added, "but the urgency comes from the American public who is right now in terrible trouble."

Sebelius Defends Health Care Reform

Lawmakers were almost finished merging House and Senate versions of sweeping overhaul legislation when a special election in Massachusetts last month cost Democrats their filibuster-proof Senate majority, throwing the effort into disarray. Mr. Obama is attempting to revive it with one final push, but with Republicans united in opposition, there is no certainty about the outcome.

The effort appears most troubled in the House, where the legislation passed by a narrow 220-215 margin in November. Since then several Democrats have defected or departed, and all 254 who remain are eyeing November midterm elections and a restive electorate clamoring for more jobs and skeptical of the health overhaul effort.

"It's fragile," Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney said of the mood in the House. "It's getting close to the election."

Thirty-nine Democrats voted "no" on the House bill, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will likely need some of those to switch their votes. The legislative package now under consideration has less restrictive language on federal funding of abortion than approved by the House.

Nonetheless, Pelosi vowed to answer the president's call.

"Our families and businesses deserve reform that will create millions of jobs, strengthen Medicare, reduce our deficit and no longer deny care or drop coverage to those who need it most," Pelosi said. "We must act now."

Republicans said Democrats would be sorry.

"Americans do not want a trillion-dollar government takeover of health care stuffed with tax hikes, Medicare cuts and giveaways to Washington special interests," said House Republican leader John Boehner. "Not today, not tomorrow, not ever."

Mr. Obama's endorsement of an up-or-down vote sealed Democrats' intention to move forward under rules allowing for a simple majority vote in the Senate, thereby circumventing Republicans, who now command enough votes to deny Democrats the 60-vote supermajority normally needed to act.

At its core, the legislation still is largely along the lines Mr. Obama has long sought. It would extend coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans while cracking down on insurance company practices such as denying policies on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. An insurance exchange would be created in which private companies could sell policies to consumers.

Much of the cost of the legislation, nearly $1 trillion over a decade, would be financed by cuts in future Medicare payments and higher payroll taxes on individuals earning more than $200,000 and couples more than $250,000.

In his latest changes Mr. Obama added some Republican ideas raised at last week's bipartisan summit, including renewed efforts on changes in medical malpractice and rooting out waste and fraud from the system.

[obbbl]

Looks like Obuma's trading federal judgeships for votes to get his way now. Yep, that's some real change. Looks like bribery to the average person.

[rightbehind]

Some of those fence sitters are hiding behind the unborn to protect the phony baloney health care insurance markets.

[Manny_Mr_Know_it_all]

"by bcc243 March 4, 2010 2:54 PM EST
yo know that's what a dicatator does. Like in iran,or north korea. which is in line with how the democrats think."
LOL< THATS WHAT BUSH DID TOO CREATE A DEFICIT!!!!!!!! AND WHY CAN"T OBAMA DO IT TO RELINQUISH US FROM A DEFICIT!!!!!!!<(who's the hater now?)

[ken1dall]

Obama is one of the most dangerous people in the USA. Cramming healthcare and climate control down the country's throat utlizing an obscure procedure is outrageous.

[rightbehind]

You mean reconciliation? The same procedure that was used 6 times during the bush administration to give tax breaks for the wealthy amongst other things?

[progbassjohn]

I am amazed anyone still believes this nonsense! Good health is not a right, it is YOUR responsibility. If these people lose their seat over this how many will be left to commit career suicide over that massive tax increase (and utter destruction of all God given liberties) that is Energy Reform???

[rightbehind]

Where is thy Brother?

[jgg000101]

"coax". ha ha. I guess "bribe", "threaten" and "intimidate" would have been too strong.

[rightbehind]

These republicrats are done unless they start acting like real democrats. They like to ride the boat but don't like it when handed an ore. These cowards are hiding behind the unborn to protect the phony baloney health care insurance market. Might as well have republicans sitting there. No real democrats will vote for these people. I would just as soon as they change parties. Don't want my donations wasted on them.

[jsonderm]

It's spelled oar not ore...that's OK, I am a Dem. of over 40= yrs and hear your dismay. Perhaps you'd better realize that a Gallup poll earlier last month indicated the bill is losing 24% of Dems. and 34% of independents if reconciliation is used. OR, the Dems. may just have the House pass the Senate bill, have the prez sign it, and forget the rest. The country is tired of the debate the theory goes, and this ploy would give the public longer to forget about it, and also save the argument over the use of reconciliation; but it would double-cross the House, of course. Oh, well, BHO has no loyalties we see, except to the left.

[rightbehind]

Thanks for the correction. You might be registered as a democrat but it's highly unlikely reading your post that you are a real one.

[whosaid1]

The thing that bothers me MOST about this, is that....the american public is going to "pay" for the BRIBES that will be needed..to get the required votes. Regardless of party, I will, in the future, vote for "anyone" who says (and that I believe) they will "work" to prevent/stop the "selling" of votes.

[loumic4]

Will YOU throw your name in the HAT in 2010 or 2012? We need SOMEBODY in WASHDC that knows what the heck is going on!

[loumic4]

If the PEOPLE wanted this (which the MAJORITY DON'T...) coaxing wouldn't even be the subject nor 15 MONTHS of BS meetings! This is a scam---nothing more than a GOVT TAKEOVER of the BEST Medical System in the entire WORLD!
FYI: That idiot woman @ the summit who said she had a voter who was using her DEAD sister's dentures....PLEASE--- What the heck...award her SOMETHING for her "green" job of recycling!!! HA!