House majority leader warns of health bill delays

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By Jennifer Haberkorn

Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Friday that Democrats are "very close" to nailing down enough votes to pass their health care reform bill and warned that the debate could go into Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.

Mr. Hoyer, in a conference call with reporters and the liberal health care advocacy group Families USA, said he expects to pass the health care reform bill on Saturday, but warned that the debate could drag on.

"As of now we're expecting to consider the legislation [Saturday] however we could make additional time as needed," he said. "I think we can finish the debate by 7 or 8 o'clock [Saturday] night."

Mr. Hoyer said the final vote could be stalled by Republican "delay tactics" or other unforeseen situations, but said it wouldn't be delayed because Democrats didn't have the votes.

"We're very close," Mr. Hoyer said of obtaining the 218 votes required for final passage. He and other leaders are still meeting with rank-and-file members.

"There are many people that are still looking for a comfort level [with the bill]," he said.

President Obama is expected to make a rare trip to Capitol Hill on Saturday morning in a final pitch to fellow Democrats