House Democratic leaders are preparing a rare Saturday night vote on sweeping health care reform.
The Washington Post reports: "Democratic whips worked their rank and file, while House leaders tried to secure a momentum-building endorsement from the AARP, the nation's largest association of people over 50. President Obama, meanwhile, laid plans to visit Capitol Hill on Thursday or Friday to address House Democrats in a final push for his signature domestic initiative. ... House Republicans are united in opposition to the majority's health bill, so to pass the measure, Democrats will need at least 218 votes from their 258-member caucus." During the amendment process, Republicans are expected to introduce their own bill, which is is unlikely to get much traction. "Further amendments are likely Friday, when the House Rules Committee will meet to determine the parameters of the floor debate" (Montgomery, 11/5).
The Associated Press: "Leaders stopped short Wednesday of declaring they had the 218 votes needed to pass the bill, and they were still negotiating language on abortion and immigration. But scheduling the vote meant those issues would have to be resolved and undecided lawmakers would have to declare themselves" (Werner and Alonso-Zaldivar, 11/5).
Meanwhile, The Hill reports that the GOP also is counting votes toward a tally of none. "Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), who serves as deputy GOP whip, told The Hill that the number of Republicans supporting the sweeping legislation will be 'very, very close to zero'" (hooper, 11/4).