Obama Invites All Senate Democrats to White House

(AP)

The entire Senate Democratic caucus has been invited to the White House on Tuesday for a group meeting with President Obama on health care reform efforts, CBS News Capitol Hill Producer John Nolen reports. The visit is scheduled for early afternoon and will come in lieu of the Democrats' regular Tuesday policy lunch meeting.

Senate Democrats appeared to be close to securing the 60 votes needed to pass their reform bill until Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) announced on CBS News' "Face the Nation" that he was not happy with the most recent plan. (Read more about the status of the Senate bill in CBSNews.com's Health Care Progress Report.)

The White House is encouraging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to cut a deal with Lieberman, Politico reports, though the White House denies that.

"The report is inaccurate," said White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer in a statement. "The White House is not pushing Senator Reid in any direction. We are working hand-in-hand with the Senate leadership to work through the various issues and pass health reform as soon as possible."

Reid has also called a Democratic caucus meeting for Monday evening.

Stephanie Condon

Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.

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