Obama to state "way forward" on healthcare next week: aide

President Barack Obama speaks at the 2010 Governors Ball at the White House in Washington February 21, 2010.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will likely make an announcement next week about the "way forward" in his push for a healthcare overhaul, the White House said on Friday.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama's announcement would probably be made "closer to Wednesday," when asked whether the president was considering ramming healthcare reform through Congress with a procedure that would allow for passage on a simple majority vote.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick)