House Democrats scramble for healthcare votes

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives scrambled on Friday to allay lingering concerns about a broad healthcare overhaul and said a landmark vote planned for Saturday could slip a day or more.

President Barack Obama and top administration officials called undecided Democrats to plead for support, and House leaders held talks with wavering members to nail down their backing.

Democrats were short of the 218 votes they need to pass the measure, but House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer said "we're very close." House members were warned the final vote could slip to Sunday or even later in the week.

Democrats cajoled dozens of party moderates concerned about abortion and immigration provisions in the bill, as well as its $1 trillion price tag and its possible effect on budget deficits.

"There are many people who are still looking to get a comfort level that this is the right thing to do," Hoyer said. "We're trying to answer any concerns they might have."

The sweeping overhaul, Obama's top domestic priority, would spark the biggest changes in the U.S. healthcare system since the creation of the Medicare health program for the elderly in 1965.

House Republicans are united in opposition to the measure, designed to rein in costs, expand coverage to millions of uninsured and bar insurance practices such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

SENATE ACTION ALSO NEEDED

Republicans object to new taxes to pay for the changes and the potential impact on the budget, and say the government is meddling in private healthcare and insurance markets.

If the bill passes the House, the action would move to the Senate which is preparing its own version. Obama wants to sign a bill by year's end, but Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid has indicated that deadline might slip.

Obama is expected to visit the Capitol on Saturday to rally Democrats to support the House bill, which was bolstered on Thursday with endorsements from powerful lobbying groups for doctors and older Americans.

Failure in the Democratic-controlled House would be a huge political blow to Obama. Democrats can afford to lose 40 of their 258 House members on the healthcare vote, but the ranks of potential defectors is even larger.

Democratic Representative Jason Altmire, who is still undecided, said he got calls from Obama, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and had chats with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Hoyer.

"They have the whole town out lobbying right now," he said. "There is definitely a sense of urgency that you can feel."

Democratic Representative Frank Kratovil said he would vote against the bill because it does not do enough to curb growth in costs and he is concerned about its effect on small businesses.