Conservatives rally against healthcare bill

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Conservatives rallied at the Capitol while Democrats pushed the levers of their majority in the House as Washington and the nation braced for Saturday’s vote on healthcare reform.

Thousands of people listened to GOP lawmakers including Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who has become the face of conservative opposition and one of the principal targets of liberals.

“Republicans don’t have the votes to kill this bill as we were limited,” said the congresswoman, who has called the pending healthcare measure “the crown jewel of socialism.”

“But what was unlimited was the voice of the American people,” she said.

“Kill the bill, kill the bill,” the crowd shouted.

The rally and subsequent lobbying are designed to spur Republicans to oppose the bill, which will be the topic of a rare Saturday vote in the House.

Top Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, braced for the fight to round up the necessary votes. President Obama will visit the House on Friday to try to persuade wavering legislators.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters that he expected the legislation to pass, though the vote could be tight.

“I wouldn’t refer to it as a squeaker, but I think it’s going to be close,” Hoyer said today. “This is a huge undertaking.”

Hoyer said language on abortion and illegal immigrants was still being negotiated.

The bill, estimated to cost more than $1 trilion over 10 years, would still have to be reconciled with the Senate version.

No date for the Senate debate has been set.

-- Michael Muskal
twitter.com/LATimesmuskal

Photo: Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-Texas) talks with crowd on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington during a Republican news conference on healthcare legislation. Credit: AP.