Democrats grow confident ahead of health care vote

UPDATED:

Democratic House leaders predicted Sunday the final tally on President Barack Obama’s historic health care bill will meet or exceed the 216 votes required for passage. Still at issue were the votes of a handful of members concerned about the abortion issue.

In a show of confidence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi emerged from the final Democratic caucus before the vote wielding a large gavel and leading Democrats across the street to the Capitol for the final series of tallies.

“We are doing this for the American people,” Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, said.

Outside, a protester yelled, “You’re doing this to the American people!” Others chanted Pelosi’s name and shouted: “Kill the bill! Kill the bill!”

Supporters cheered the speaker and other Democrats as they entered the Capitol.

Inside the House chamber, negotiations continued on the floor while overhead in the visitors gallery, a protester hollered, “The people don’t want this!” As ushers tried to escort him out, several Republicans stood up on the House floor and cheered.

A few hundred protesters carrying signs opposing the health care overhaul crowded a grassy area near the House side of the Capitol. One sign read, “This bill is anti-American, vote the bums out,” while another stated, “Obamacare (equals) death warrant for grandma.” Appearing to outnumber Americans flags were banners with the Colonial-era slogan “Don’t tread on me.”

Amid the heat, Democratic leaders said they had only a few votes left to lock in. But none was willing to declare victory — a hesitance Republicans attributed to public controversy over the plan in a difficult election year.

The legislation, affecting virtually every American and more than a year in the making, would extend coverage to an estimated 32 million uninsured, bar insurers from denying coverage on the basis of existing medical conditions, and cut federal deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade.

Congressional analysts estimate the cost of the two bills combined would be $940 billion over a decade.

Rep. Bart Stupak, Michigan Democrat, said he was one of about a half-dozen anti-abortion Democrats who were working out language for a presidential executive order that would have provided more assurances that no public money would be used for elective abortions.

Although Rep. Henry A. Waxman, California Democrat, said his understanding was that Mr. Stupak had agreed to vote “yes,” Mr. Stupak said no deal had been made.

“I’m a ‘no’ vote. There’s no agreement. There is no agreement,” Mr. Stupak told reporters Sunday afternoon. “We were close, and we went one step forward and two back.”

As the House opened the rare Sunday session, Democrats showed progress toward the crucial threshold. Retiring Rep. Brian Baird, Washington Democrat, announced he would switch his “no” vote to “yes,” convinced, he said, that the legislation was better than doing nothing.

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