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March 9, 2010
Posted: March 9th, 2010 09:11 PM ET

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WASHINGTON (CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that before the House acts on final health care legislation, leaders are waiting for costs assessments from the Congressional Budget Office, and information from the Senate parliamentarian.

Specifically, House leaders want to know "what the Senate will be able to do" in a controversial reconciliation bill meant to correct changes in the underlying health care bill.

Pelosi's comments came after an hour-and-a-half meeting in the Capitol with House and Senate Democratic leaders, and the White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel that, in part, dealt with allaying distrust some House Democrats have of Senate Democrats and their ability to pass the reconciliation bill.

Asked if House leaders want a letter or some other concrete assurance about what the Senate can pass in a reconciliation bill, Pelosi, D-California, said no.

"We are way far down the road. It's not a question of confidence. It's a question now of making sure those numbers are what we represent them to be and we have to have that validation from the CBO," she said.

Separately, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, believes he has the votes in the Senate to pass health care reform using the reconciliation procedure that allows a simple majority vote.

Pelosi told reporters she is aiming for a House health care vote before the Easter recess, scheduled to start at the end of the month.

"That would be my hope," Pelosi responded when asked by a reporter if a vote before members leave for the two-week break was a realistic deadline.

Filed under: Healthcare • House of Representatives


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Anonymous   March 10th, 2010 2:34 am ET

Democrats, especially more liberal ones, should view this bill much like hardcore federalists such Alexander Hamilton viewed the Constitution. That is, a rather imperfect system which could be improved upon with amendments and creative administration.

stop the nonsense   March 10th, 2010 1:45 am ET

Up or Down Vote- that's what the President asked for. No more politcs- It's time to vote!
And Democrats- If you think Republicans and Independents are going to keep you out of offic- vote no on this bill and watch your base dissapear!

Kathleen   March 10th, 2010 12:18 am ET

WITH A PUBLIC OPTION I HOPE.

Please take it out of the hands of the Health Insurance Companies!

Obama the Arrogant Liar   March 9th, 2010 11:19 pm ET

we want free health care for union members and illegals and we want it now. Just print mo of that obama money.

Dumb,dumber and dumbest   March 9th, 2010 11:14 pm ET

The cost of this bill will be devastating, both monetary and the overload of the currnet medical system, get ready for rationing.true cost need to be brought under control, but more welfare programs is not the answer.These so called leaders need a lesson in simple economics,

ggg   March 9th, 2010 11:10 pm ET

We need to know how much healthcare reform really cost....we can't start the taxes now and the benefits in 3 years and look at a decade only. That is a fake analysis. Match all the costs and taxes for a 10 year period and the CBO will find this mess will cost us more than a trillion dollars in additional debt (on top of already bankruptcy caliber debt). We need to hold the line on taxes and cut spending to balance our budget.

Ken in NC   March 9th, 2010 11:06 pm ET

Please pass the bill so Rush Limbaugh can go on and move to Costa Rica like he has said he will do if it is passed. That fool doesn't know that they have socialized health care there too just like he didn't know they had it in Hawaii when he gave his care there such high praise after his heart scare hehehe.

Jake   March 9th, 2010 11:02 pm ET

Stalling for votes and courage,they do not have either.Just alot of hot air and smoke just like their Clown Prince NObamadoodle.14 months and NOTHING but smoke and blame it on Bush.Empty talk by empty suits.

Watchdog   March 9th, 2010 11:00 pm ET

Pelosi would wait for nothing if she had the votes...she doesn't

debinaz   March 9th, 2010 10:30 pm ET

what is wrong with this congress? we the people and that being the majority of americans do not want their health care at all. i am having trouble paying for my own much less someone elses....most of congress are seriously very wealthy people.. hey nancy p share the wealth and you can pay for health care along with your friends in washington.

TED T   March 9th, 2010 10:26 pm ET

Just get it done!!! JUST DO IT!!!!

Clint, Wa.   March 9th, 2010 10:13 pm ET

Don't worry about the cost assessments, just have Florida Senate hopeful Marco Rubio put it on his his Republican Party of Florida credit card, a long with his back waxing.

Steve-Illinois   March 9th, 2010 10:13 pm ET

The House will vote on this, pass it, and the Senate will throw them under the bus! Why should the Senate be interested in amending a bill it has already agreed to and passed? If they wanted the changes the House is looking for, they would have put them in their bill the first time around. They are going to make the House and Pelosi out to be nothing but patsies!
Better put on your under armour Nancy! You're gonna need it when they throw you under the bus!

Common sense!

TheTruth   March 9th, 2010 10:12 pm ET

About time, America needs to move on and see if this bill plays fair.

Kate in SW Fla   March 9th, 2010 9:58 pm ET

Pleeeeeeeeease, get this done and let's move on to climate/energy independence and immigration. so much to do, so much obstruction!!! Get going.

Old Farmboy   March 9th, 2010 9:52 pm ET

$1,000,000,000,000.00 is what this will cost and that's just the SWAG. SWAG stands for Scientific Will Ass Guess for those that wondered. With 307,006,550 people living in the country as of the 2009 population figure, that's $3,247.26 that everyone will annually that we're going to have to pay for this. Makes you wonder where that money is coming from. Also, it makes me wonder what part of that number is going toward the unregistered workers. The most recent data is from 2003 and an estimated 14,000,000 people visited Emergency Rooms. During that time it was also estimated that approximately 65,000,000 people did not have health insurance. The way I see this is that with Obamacare as so many want to call it, that there's going to be more demand than supply. Companies are going to jump on the band wagon and drop the care that some already have and force you to either take Obamacare or get your own, which is going to be significantly higher. The waiting line at the Doctor is going to increase and the service you'll receive is going to be standardized to a less than satisfactory value for more than rasied.

if I was crazy, I'd be a conservative too   March 9th, 2010 9:36 pm ET

Pass the bill and give 30 million some hope, and give over a hundred million of us security. Come on Democrats, make us proud!

valwayne   March 9th, 2010 9:35 pm ET

Obama, Pelosi, and Reid have fixed the bill to get fake numbers. They are telling the CBO they will really cut medicare by 500 million dollars to pay for healthcare. Does anybody believe that? They are saying they are going to cut payments to Doctors by $300 billion, even thought they've also said they know they have to fix/eliminate those cuts. Does anybody believe those cuts will happen. Those two items alone are worth nearly a trillion dollars, and their are dozens more. This bill will cost over a trillion more just with the things we know it it that will never happen. Then its likely to cost 3 to 5 times more than they expect. It will be at least 3 to 5 Trillion dollars, all additional debt on top of the trillions and trillions Obama is already piling up. And not a penny in savings from lawsuit reform because the trial lawers pass a lot of the tens of billions they earn from frivlous lawsuits to the Democrats. Stop the corruption before its too late!!!!!

Zorro. . .   March 9th, 2010 9:33 pm ET

Lets do this. . .for once !

ATL Guy   March 9th, 2010 9:20 pm ET

Awesome. Get the bill done. Then the onus will be on the Republicans to repeal it. If they think people are upset with the way the bill was constructed, wait until people find out that they would go back to the old system of healthcare delivery without having tried the President's approach. People are going to come around to the plan when they realize that the insurance they have right now stays the same. And those without insurance or those that were denied care will be able to get insurance and will love it.

Liberalism is a Mental Disorder   March 9th, 2010 9:18 pm ET

"It's a question now of making sure those numbers are what we represent them to be and we have to have that validation from the CBO," ....

Yeap – they are what you represent them to be...a piece of trash...10 years of taxing for 6 years of services.....BOGUS....and still going to cost over a trillion dollars.....The libs wouldn't know a truth if it bit them in their big behinds...

D.   March 9th, 2010 9:16 pm ET

CBO, a few more scandals, a few resignations, some talks, and political bribes and we are in business!

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