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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama in 11th-hour US health plea | Obama in 11th-hour US health plea |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has made a last-minute plea in person to Democrat lawmakers ahead of a crucial vote on his landmark healthcare reforms. | US President Barack Obama has made a last-minute plea in person to Democrat lawmakers ahead of a crucial vote on his landmark healthcare reforms. |
| Mr Obama needs 218 supporters in the House of Representatives vote, which may come as early as Saturday. | Mr Obama needs 218 supporters in the House of Representatives vote, which may come as early as Saturday. |
| After meeting key members, he said now was "the time to finish the job". | |
| The bill will extend coverage to 36m more Americans and provide affordable healthcare to 96%, supporters say. All House Republicans are opposed to it. | |
| If the bill passes, the next step will be to reconcile it with a separate Senate bill. | If the bill passes, the next step will be to reconcile it with a separate Senate bill. |
| 'Confidence' | 'Confidence' |
| President Obama has made reform of the healthcare system a central plank of his domestic agenda. | President Obama has made reform of the healthcare system a central plank of his domestic agenda. |
| After the meeting, House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was confident of a Democrat win. | After the meeting, House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was confident of a Democrat win. |
| She predicted: "We will pass health care reform." | She predicted: "We will pass health care reform." |
| A White House official said Mr Obama told House Democrats during a hour-long private meeting that this was a historic opportunity to change the US health care system, the Associated Press reported. | A White House official said Mr Obama told House Democrats during a hour-long private meeting that this was a historic opportunity to change the US health care system, the Associated Press reported. |
| The House debate opened on Saturday with Democrats who support it saying it is needed morally, socially and economically. | The House debate opened on Saturday with Democrats who support it saying it is needed morally, socially and economically. |
| HEALTHCARE IN THE US 47 million uninsured, 25 million under-insuredHealthcare costs represent 16% of GDP, almost twice OECD average Q&A: US healthcare reform | HEALTHCARE IN THE US 47 million uninsured, 25 million under-insuredHealthcare costs represent 16% of GDP, almost twice OECD average Q&A: US healthcare reform |
| Its mainly Republican opponents say the bill is over-ambitious, creates too much government control and could be hugely damaging to the economy. | Its mainly Republican opponents say the bill is over-ambitious, creates too much government control and could be hugely damaging to the economy. |
| The bill would allow the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies and make insurers offer cover to those with pre-existing conditions. | The bill would allow the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies and make insurers offer cover to those with pre-existing conditions. |
| But this so-called "public option" has been scaled back in the wrangling that preceded the House vote. | But this so-called "public option" has been scaled back in the wrangling that preceded the House vote. |
| Mr Obama was reportedly wooing wavering legislators by phone on Friday and scheduled personal meetings for Saturday morning. | Mr Obama was reportedly wooing wavering legislators by phone on Friday and scheduled personal meetings for Saturday morning. |
| White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "The sales pitch is simply that we're on the cusp of the type of healthcare reform that this country has been talking about for decades. | White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "The sales pitch is simply that we're on the cusp of the type of healthcare reform that this country has been talking about for decades. |
| "Do this for the country. Do this for your constituents." | "Do this for the country. Do this for your constituents." |
| 'Confident' | 'Confident' |
| The Democrats have reportedly offered concessions to anti-abortion legislators to allow a vote on an amendment on whether to allow public funding for abortion programmes. | The Democrats have reportedly offered concessions to anti-abortion legislators to allow a vote on an amendment on whether to allow public funding for abortion programmes. |
| The debate has brought protests on both sides | The debate has brought protests on both sides |
| The Washington Post predicted the anti-abortion lobby would now win that amendment vote and anger abortion rights supporters within the Democratic Party. | The Washington Post predicted the anti-abortion lobby would now win that amendment vote and anger abortion rights supporters within the Democratic Party. |
| House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer told MSNBC: "We're confident we're going to have the votes later today. | House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer told MSNBC: "We're confident we're going to have the votes later today. |
| "There some disagreement on some issues but there's universal commitment to passing a healthcare reform bill." | "There some disagreement on some issues but there's universal commitment to passing a healthcare reform bill." |
| But Mississippi's Republican Governor Haley Barbour said the bill should be "withdrawn and reworked" in favour of a more modest programme. | But Mississippi's Republican Governor Haley Barbour said the bill should be "withdrawn and reworked" in favour of a more modest programme. |
| Although the House vote could come on Saturday, Mr Hoyer said it could be delayed to Sunday or even as late as Tuesday. | Although the House vote could come on Saturday, Mr Hoyer said it could be delayed to Sunday or even as late as Tuesday. |
| The New York Times said Mr Obama had secured 205 votes by Friday evening and was negotiating for the 13 more. | The New York Times said Mr Obama had secured 205 votes by Friday evening and was negotiating for the 13 more. |
| Once both the House and Senate have approved their own versions, a conference committee, made up of lawmakers from both houses, will convene to reconcile the two. | Once both the House and Senate have approved their own versions, a conference committee, made up of lawmakers from both houses, will convene to reconcile the two. |
| If both chambers then vote in favour of the reconciled version, it will be sent to Mr Obama for his approval, and become law. | If both chambers then vote in favour of the reconciled version, it will be sent to Mr Obama for his approval, and become law. |