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Democrats step back on health care bill

27 January 2010 02:32 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Ziya Agazade â€“ APA. Democrats retreated Tuesday from a quick push to pass President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, lacking a workable strategy to salvage the sweeping legislation that has consumed Congress for more than a year, APA reports citing â€œAssociated Pressâ€.

"There is no rush," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said after a meeting of Senate Democrats. His comments came as two centrists said they would oppose the plan Democratic leaders were considering to reconcile differences between the House and Senate bills and put comprehensive legislation on Obama’s desk.

A week after the loss of a Massachusetts Senate seat â€” their 60th vote â€” cost Democrats undisputed control of the congressional agenda, leaders are still casting about for a way forward. Given the congressional schedule, it could be weeks â€” late February at the earliest â€” before they act.

"There are no easy choices," acknowledged House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md, insisting that the goal remains the same: to pass far-reaching legislation that would expand coverage, reduce costs and improve quality.

Democratic leaders are coalescing around the idea of the House passing the Senate bill, with both chambers agreeing to follow-up legislation that would settle major differences.

The strategy calls for the Senate to use a budget-related procedure â€” reconciliation_ that requires only 51 votes to advance. Even so, leaders may not be able to round up the votes.