House panel to consider healthcare bill Monday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The House of Representatives Budget Committee on Monday will consider a reconciliation bill that Democrats hope clears the way for final congressional approval of an overhaul of U.S. healthcare, House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer said on Friday.

Representative Jim Clyburn, a member of the House Democratic leadership, said he hopes a vote by the full chamber could be held on the measure within the next 10 days.

The White House announced earlier on Friday that President Barack Obama has postponed a trip to Asia so that he could stay in Washington and help fellow Democrats get healthcare across the finish line.

Obama has pushed hard for a final vote on the healthcare overhaul, a top domestic priority, which has ignited a long-running political brawl with Republicans and consumed Congress for the last nine months.

The reconciliation bill is aimed at resolving concerns of House Democrats with an earlier Senate-passed healthcare bill.

Democratic Representative Anthony Weiner said: "People are becoming more confident that we are going to get this done."

(Reporting by Donna Smith; writing by Thomas Ferraro; editing by Eric Beech)

I think Pelosi and that gang really do not have the votes, and this is why Obama is putting off his trip. They want to try to make back room deals and do more arm twisting hoping to get the votes.

We have stopped this healthcare bill so far, and we can still stop it, but it will take every single member to start making calls and/or e-mailing your Representative, Senator and Blue Dog Democrats. Do not be discouraged and stop - that is what they want. If we stop making our voices heard the Dems will use it to their advantage and say we want healthcare.

Keep up the pressure, do not stop making the calls or e-mailing. I can't tell you how many calls I have made and e-mails I have sent, and I will keep on doing so until the healthcare bill is dead.

Every person who has joined this group says they want to make a difference, well here is you chance to make that difference.