US Democrats move closer to healthcare deal
Saturday, 13 March 2010
WASHINGTON, Mar 12 (Reuters): Congressional Democrats drew closer Thursday to agreement on a broad healthcare overhaul that could clear the way for a final vote in the next few weeks, but vowed not to be bound by White House deadlines.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said there are still issues to work out in the reform package, and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was addressing the concerns "member-by-member."
Democrats said they were close to hammering out the final changes on healthcare issues like taxes and consumer affordability that could break months of legislative gridlock on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
"We have a pretty good idea of where we are going on it," Pelosi told reporters after Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, briefed members on the changes sought by Obama.
"We have to, member-by-member, address the concerns that they raise," Pelosi said.
Obama has pushed hard for a quick final vote on the healthcare overhaul, which has ignited a long-running political brawl with Republican opponents and consumed the US Congress for the last nine months.
For the third consecutive night, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel met with congressional leaders at the US Capitol and told reporters afterward there were "a lot of decisions made."
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said there are still issues to work out in the reform package, and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was addressing the concerns "member-by-member."
Democrats said they were close to hammering out the final changes on healthcare issues like taxes and consumer affordability that could break months of legislative gridlock on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
"We have a pretty good idea of where we are going on it," Pelosi told reporters after Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, briefed members on the changes sought by Obama.
"We have to, member-by-member, address the concerns that they raise," Pelosi said.
Obama has pushed hard for a quick final vote on the healthcare overhaul, which has ignited a long-running political brawl with Republican opponents and consumed the US Congress for the last nine months.
For the third consecutive night, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel met with congressional leaders at the US Capitol and told reporters afterward there were "a lot of decisions made."