House health bill may get vote by next Thursday, Pelosi says

[ProSense]

House health bill may get vote by next Thursday, Pelosi says

By Michael O'Brien

A vote on a House healthcare reform bill could come up as early as next Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday.

A floor vote for the bill unveiled this morning would come up by Thursday under the best of circumstances, the speaker said, but would likely take place before the November 11th Veterans Day holiday.

"The earliest we can file a manager's amendment is Monday morning, keeping with the 72-hours on the internet before we could file," Pelosi told liberal bloggers during a conference call this afternoon, audio from which was posted by the blog CrooksandLiars.com. "We would in the meanwhile be preparing the amendment to file as soon as possible, so we can take up the bill by Thursday if we are ready to do so."

"Next week or the week after is when we'll be voting on the bill, under the best circumstances," she said.

Pelosi said the timing depends on the ability of Democratic leaders to craft rules for the health debate under the manger's amendment, leading to a hopeful signature on final legislation as soon as before the Thanksgiving recess, or as late as "the weeks before Christmas."

But the speaker signaled a reluctance to allow amendments during the floor debate to her health bill, though she cautioned that she is open to the idea, and has not yet made up her mind on the matter.

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[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. I think Nancy is smart like a fox. By giving us access before the floor debate

we have time to make a LOT of noise.

If there ever was a time, it is NOW!

[martymar64]

2. Clyburn says its going to be a good bill

On Countdown, he told Lawrence O'Donnell that it will have a much stronger public option than the Senate version. Having it out there for 72 hours should alllow enough folks to get a good look at it and to build a larger backing. He is predicting that they'll have the votes in the House.