Excerpts from Obama’s Final Push for Health Care Reform. March 2010

on March 17, 2010 Obama on health care reform: ‘Help us finish this fight’ The House is expected to vote Sunday on the health care bill passed by the Senate in December. Republicans have vowed to do everything they can to kill the bill. Here’s the latest on where the debate stands: Chasing the votes: Democratic leaders continue to try to round up the 216 necessary votes to pass the bill. According to CNN’s latest count, 29 Democrats plan to vote against the legislation. Thirty-eight Democratic “no” votes are needed to kill the bill. Thirty-three House Democrats have told CNN they haven’t yet decided how they will vote, and 23 have not responded to CNN’s repeated inquiries. Final plea: President Obama plans to address the House Democratic caucus on Saturday to make his final case for health care reform, according to four Democratic officials familiar with the plans. One of the officials said the House Democrats are expected to come to the White House at 4 pm Saturday. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of final details still being discussed between the White House and congressional officials. Obama planned to meet with and call Congress members Friday afternoon, as he has been doing throughout the week. Video from March 3, 2010 Obama Makes Final Health Care Push, Calls for Up or Down Vote in Congress. Obama Says Time for Debate is Over, Says Democrats Could Use ‘Reconciliation’ Rules to Bypass Republican Objections. “[Health care reform] deserves the