U.S. House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated that the House could cast its greatly anticipated vote on the Healthcare reform bill on Saturday, March 20. In the meantime, House Democratic leaders are busy attempting to get reluctant representatives to change their minds and vote for the bill. 

Sources close to the Democrats indicated that up to Wednesday the required 216 House votes required to pass the bill was still short by 12. However, some representatives who, originally could not be persuaded to vote for the bill have changed their minds. This includes Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who is now saying said he believes "health care is a civil right." Last year he voted against the House healthcare bill, and referred to the Senate bill passed In December, as something that would aid private insurers. A relatively new representative, John Boccieri of Ohio, has been reported as saying that he prefers to vote on what he perceives as an imperfect Senate bill than doing nothing. 

Another potential hold out who could be persuaded to vote yes, is Representative   Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania, who said on a TV morning show on Wednesday that he could vote for the revised version of the bill, but wants first to see the final version and the cost of the reforms as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The Senate bill was estimated at $875 billion. Altmire said he would not vote for the bill if added “even one penny” to the national deficit. The White House and Democratic leaders have consistently said the bill will not add to the deficit, and in effect, should reduce the deficit over a 10-year period.

Other procrastinating House Democrats are wavering because of concerns that the Senate bill does not include sufficient subsidies that would help lower-income families who cannot normally afford coverage, when having health insurance becomes mandatory.  

Rep. Dale Kildee, (D-Mich.), a pro-lifer who voted yes for the House bill in November, said he is casting a yes vote for the bill. He said after speaking to his priest, family and friends and reading the abortion language in the bill over a dozen times, he can vote with a free conscience. 

He said, “We must not lose sight of what is at stake here – the lives of 31 million American children, adults, and seniors who don’t have health insurance.”  He added that, “There is nothing more pro-life than protecting the lives of 31 million Americans. Voting for this bill in no way diminishes my pro-life voting record or undermines my beliefs. I am a staunch pro-life member of Congress – both for the born and the unborn.” 

South Florida Democratic representatives Kendrick Meek, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Alcee Hastings are expected to vote for the bill.