President Obama urged House Democrats to pass a broad health care reform bill, calling it "This Generation's Moment.
"I urge members of Congress to rise to this moment, answer the call of history and vote yes for health insurance reform for America."
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she's confident they'll have the 218 votes needed for approval.
"It's very humbling to stand here at a time when we can associate ourselves with the work of those who pass Social Security, those who pass Medicare, and now we will pass health-care reform."
The health care overhaul is designed to expand coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, reining costs and barring insurance practices such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. In a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, Obama emphasized the need for health care reform and said vote against the bill would not inoculate Democrats against Republicans attacks. But House Republicans are united against the bill, saying it places new taxes on the wealthy and allows the government to bud into the private insurance market, Republican Eric Cantor of Virginia.
"There are two very distinct visions of the way forward for this country as far as health care is concerned. There is one version as the Leader just pointed out, represented by the majority's bill, which will put the government between patients and their doctors. The Republican version which won't. "
A House victory on the bill would be a big step forward for the overhaul, and would shift the political spotlight to the Senate, which is preparing it's own version. But failure in the House would be a huge blow to Obama, who has staked much of his political capital on the health care battle and has said he wants to sign a bill by year's end.
Karen Hendren, Reuters.
