Temperature Rising for Health Care Votes

(CBS)  President Obama's push for health care reform picked up a key vote Wednesday from someone the president had lobbied hard - Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. But the arm-twisting and vote-counting continue, as CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports from Capitol Hill.

Not two weeks ago, Kucinich told CBS News there was no way he could vote for the health care bill.

"My position is pretty well established," he said.

But that was before he got the hard sell from the president, including some one-on-one time on Air Force One. Whatever Mr. Obama said to him - it worked.

"Even though I don't like the bill, I've made a decision to, a decision to support it," Kucinich said Wednesday. Mr. Obama called it "a good sign"

Special Report: Health Care Reform

Still, a Democratic victory is far from assured. There are currently 431 members of the House of Representatives. Assuming all Republicans vote no, Speaker Pelosi needs 216 Democrats to vote yes - meaning she can afford to lose 37 of her members at most.

As of now, CBS has tallied 19 Democrats who say they plan to vote no; 48 more say they are on the fence.

Those members are getting so many calls from constituents on both sides that house phone lines were overloaded today. Back in their home districts, the pressure is just as intense.

Supporters and opponents of the legislation have been holding rallies, chanting "Just vote no!" "We want healthcare," and "Get off the fence."

The Democrats are aiming for a vote this weekend.

"We're going to do it as soon as it's ready to be brought to the floor," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said. "As soon as we have the CBO numbers that we can have confidence in, and I would say that Saturday and Sunday are possibilities."

More Coverage of Health Care Reform:

Republicans Have Used "Slaughter Solution" Many Times
Countdown to Health Care Vote Spurs Final Push
Door Closed on Health Care Protesters
Cloudy Skies Start Clearing for Dems
GOP Tries to Block "Slaughter Solution" in Health Care Vote
Liberal Groups Turn on Dems to Pass Health Care Reform

But Republicans are threatening to go all the way to the Supreme Court if Democrats try to use a parliamentary short-cut to pass a set of fixes to the Senate bill without voting on the controversial bill itself.

"There is no instance in the history of the United States of America where major legislation has been sent to the president's desk without an up or down vote on the floor of the House and the floor of the Senate," Republican Mike Pence of Illinois said.

One hot button issue that appears to be fading in importance is abortion. Another anti-abortion rights Democrat said today he's fine with the language in the Senate bill and will vote yes. And a group of Catholic leaders representing 59,000 nuns sent a letter to members saying they too support the bill and do not believe it provides federal funding for abortion.

Watch CBS News video of Rep. Kucinich's announcement:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

[athehunt]

Hooray!!!! PASS THE BILL ! I've waited eight long years for this. I love to hear the crybabies like Rush and Glenn and Sean. Hooray, Hooray. What would they be saying if the shoe were on the other foot??

[pajamaparty]

If this socialist healthcare plan passes, I'm going to quit my job and go on the dole and tell everyone to do the same. I'm going to start the 'pajama party'. Why go to work everyday when I can just go on the dole and get all these freebees. Unfortunately, if people like me stop working, where do the rubes think they are going to get the money to pay for all this stuff. I don't understand why people are no longer required to take care of themselves. When did America become socialist? Taxation without representation is alive a well and the governement could care less about the American people. This bill is outrageous in everyway and the fact that they are ram rodding it down our throats only emphasizes the fact that they don't want anyone looking too close at the details. The American people will really suffer for this and I incourage everyone to stop paying into the beast.

[roach9703]

We need better access to health care, absolutely. But, this plan is plain awful!

[chitown639]

Well, looks like the U.S. will insure 30 million more Americans despite the right-wingers best efforts on behalf of the insurance companies....good luck neo-cons on trying to repeal this bill and explaining to 30 million Americans why you're taking away their health care insurance, you will be putting yourselves in the position of deciding who should and shouldn't get health care, who should and who shouldnt die...sort of like a DEATH PANEL.....

[mmvale]

Today I tried to call all the people listed as undecided on the healthcare bill. I wanted to ask them to vote "NO" for this terrible bill. Already Drs. in our area are refusing to take people on Medicare. We can't take $500 billion in cuts. I got a busy signal from all but 4. We really need to make some changes and right away. Now they've voted to avoid voting for it. Help!

[cleric60]

"Even though I don't like the bill, I've made a decision to, a decision to support it," Kucinich said Wednesday. Mr. Obama called it "a good sign"
I wonder what his Ohio people will think of his decision? "I don't like the bill, so I will vote against my own conscious and vote yes!
I hope his voters in Ohio will remember his action this coming November.

[ALBrainTrust10]

HE SOLD HIS VOTE FOR A PLANE RIDE.

[graceneeded1957]

We can argue all day about health reform. Both sides. But I guess what is really sad is that so many people are losing jobs, going bankrupt, worried about feeding their families, and all obama wants us to see is his glorius health care reform. Maybe he should be putting this much effort into bringing back JOBS. American jobs. He does not have to worry about paying out of this world light bills, car insurance, water bills, anything. He is completely out of touch with where we are. When was the last time HE spent a dime in a GROCERY STORE? Do you think he knows what a gallon of milk costs??? I can hear alot of you now saying, yes but by God we will have given them Health Insurance!!! No pre-existing clause!!!!! Government looking after their people. More like more Government in your business. I ask you honestly, what has Government gotten into that they have not screwed up????

[midlclass]

creating jobs is not the goverments respondsibility, this is suppose to be the private sector ,free trade, part of our society, it's quite obvious that they are not doing there part.

[maddog0802]

'what has the government gotten into that they have not screwed up?'
well let's see....social security, without which many millions of Americans would have NO income when they are too old to work and would otherwise die of starvation. oh yeah Medicare, without which many more millions of Americans would not only die but die very painful deaths without doctors or medicene (because guess what, older Americans have the highest health insurance premiums that many could not afford...how ironic to this conversation!). and let's not forget the Veterans Adminstration, without which many millions of deserving vets would suffer without medical care or other benefits. the interstate highway system, deemed by many the best in the world and directly responsible for part of our economic and domestic security. I can go on ad nauseum but I hope you get the point.

[noloyalisti]

I love this. Whoever votes against saving American lives, saving money and controlling the rich, greedy big "health" insurance corporations will BE EXPOSED. Especially the Republican (but also the midwest "Democrats") corporate tools.

[ALBrainTrust10]

I THOUGHT THE RICH GREEDY GUYS WERE THE FEDS?

[pr_boxer]

30 million Americans , 30 million!!, thats four New York Cities, without decent health care. Just think no other idustrialized nation can lay claim to such an accomplishment. Oh! and we have the highest cost of those nations too. Hope you GOP supporters are proud of this.

[cleric60]

pr_boxer 30 million last week is was 45 million....where do you get these figures?????? And what are the real reasons that these people don't have health care coverage????

[thechooch1]

radicalc-2009 "The best health car system in the world" Do you mean the most expensive and the 37th best? It is only good if you have good insurance or unlimited funds. This bill is far from perfect (thanks gop) but it is much better than what we have now!

[noloyalisti]

Hey knucklehead, this site is not for personal selling. Maybe you need a real job.