WASHINGTON (AP) — Nine House Democrats indicated in an Associated Press survey Monday that they had not ruled out switching their “no” votes to “yes” votes on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, brightening the party's hopes in the face of unyielding Republican opposition.
Democratic leaders have strongly signaled that they will use a process known as budget reconciliation to try to push part of the package through the Senate without allowing Republicans to block it with filibusters.
The road could be more difficult in the House, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is struggling to secure enough Democratic votes for approval. That has spurred the effort to attract former foes.
The White House said Obama will outline his final “way forward” in a Washington speech on Wednesday, and he is expected to embrace a handful of Republican ideas for making health care more efficient.
The proposal would, among its many changes, impose new restrictions on insurance companies and require health insurance coverage for up to 30 million Americans who now lack it.
In interviews, at least nine House Democrats or their spokesmen either declined to state their positions or said they were undecided about the revised legislation, making them likely targets for intense wooing by Pelosi and Obama.
Three of them — Brian Baird of Washington, Bart Gordon of Tennessee and John Tanner of Tennessee — are not seeking re-election this fall.
The other six are Rick Boucher of Virginia, Suzanne Kosmas of Florida, Frank Kratovil of Maryland, Michael McMahon of New York, Scott Murphy of New York and Glenn Nye of Virginia.
Several lawmakers' offices did not reply to the queries.
