The House of Representatives has begun debating a landmark healthcare reform bill seen as critical to President Barack Obama's political standing and legislative agenda.
The legislation, Mr Obama's top domestic priority, would usher in the most sweeping changes to the $2.5 trillion US healthcare system in decades, including expanding coverage to 32 million uninsured people and barring insurance companies from denying coverage in certain cases.
It also would require most Americans to have insurance, give subsidies to help some pay for coverage and create state-based exchanges where the uninsured can compare and shop for plans.
Passage of the bill is critical for Mr Obama, whose political standing and legislative agenda could hinge on its success. The president’s public approval ratings have dipped to about 50 per cent in many polls as the acrimonious debate has dragged on.
Republican critics say the bill is an unpopular and heavy-handed intrusion in the healthcare sector that will drive up costs, increase the budget deficit and reduce patients' choices.
The healthcare insurance industry opposes the plan, and polls show that many Americans are also against it.
Democrats predicted today that they would secure enough votes to pass the controversial bill.
"We have the votes now ... as we speak," Representative John Larson, head of the House Democratic Caucus, said on ABC when asked if the majority party had the 216 votes needed to pass the bill over unified Republican opposition.
Representative Bart Stupak, an anti-abortion Democrat who had led a small revolt against the legislation, has reportedly decided to vote in favour of the bill. His support could be pivotal in bringing over a number of other House Democrats who had threatened to oppose the measure due to concerns that it would allow for federal funding of abortions.
Earlier today, House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer told NBC the votes still needed for passage were in the "low single digits."
But Representative James Clyburn, whose job as House Majority Whip is to track expected votes, told CBS the Democrats would ultimately get the votes needed. “We'll be there," he said.
Republicans doubted the Democrats had the votes to ensure passage. House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence told CNN the Republicans will use "every means at our disposal" to block the bill.
"The important thing is she's not there yet," Republican Senator John Cornyn told Fox News, referring to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's pledge to pass a Senate-passed version of the proposed overhaul.
The House will vote separately today on that version of the bill, which, if approved, would become law once signed by Mr Obama as well as on a second package containing changes to the bill sought by House Democrats.
If the House approves the package of changes to the Senate bill, the Senate would take it up next week and would need just a simple majority to pass it.
Under pressure from Republicans and a minority of Democrats, party leaders dumped a controversial plan to pass the Senate bill, which is unpopular with House Democrats, without a direct vote.
Mr Obama went to Capitol Hill yesterday to rally support and urged House Democrats to "stand up" and take what he acknowledged could be a vote that could hurt them politically in their home districts.
Reuters