WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders are striving to muster enough votes in the House to pass a $940 billion health care bill on Sunday.
They’ve made some progress. A fourth Democrat, John Boccieri of Ohio, has switched his vote from “no” to “yes.”
But a last-minute dispute over Medicare is threatening to derail some of the gains.
Some lawmakers are complaining about a provision in the bill on how health providers are paid under Medicare. Democrat Peter DeFazio of Oregon says he’s “a ‘no’ unless they fix it.”
Democratic leaders still don’t command the 216 votes they need, so every undecided lawmaker is the focus of personal attention from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the White House.
Obama, who delayed an overseas trip to help ensure passage of the legislation, plans to meet with Democratic lawmakers at the White House tomorrow afternoon.
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