Democrats: Health Vote Next Week

Democrats got ready for a health care rumble today, with Nancy Pelosi telling her troops to clear their schedules, be ready to stay in session, and expect a vote next week. Pelosi will move to pass the Senate's December bill as soon as Thursday or Friday, and though Politico reports that the speaker likely doesn't yet have the 216 votes she needs, most believe she's within reach.

With the president's signature on that bill, the House would then approve a series of changes that the Senate could in turn pass by reconciliation. And health reform is expected to get a boost by pairing it with student loan reform, which is popular among House Democrats and may sway undecideds. House leaders also plan to strip kickbacks for Nebraska and Florida from the final bill.
(More health care reform stories.)