Product: CTMAIN PubDate: 11-07-2009 Zone: ALL Edition: HD Page: NATWLD-10 User: wimcdonald Time: 11-06-2009 22:03 Color: CMYK

10 CHICAGO TRIBUNE | SECTION 1 | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009

NATION &WORLD PAGES 10-13 Democrats: We can pass bill political left. 218 House votes “I’m disappointed,” said Weiner, who made the concession after said to be lined up sitting down with Pelosi and House Energy and Commerce Committee for health care Chairman Henry Waxman late Thursday and reviewing a list of By Noam N. Levey centrist Democrats uncomfortable and James Oliphant about the vote. “But the most impor- TRIBUNE NEWSPAPERS tant thing that we have to do here is move the ball forward and get a bill WASHINGTON — With a historic passed.” floor vote looming on their health On another front, senior Demo- care bill, House Democratic leaders crats tried to build support for a worked into the night Friday to compromise to defuse a long-sim- round up rank-and-file Democrats mering debate over how to restrict who still had not committed to federal funding for abortion. support the legislation despite The proposal by Rep. Brad Ells- weeks of cajoling and deal-making. worth, a socially conservative Dem- Senior Democrats maintained ocrat from Indiana, strengthens a they would have the 218 votes provision in the health care bill that needed for passage when the House prohibits insurance companies votes, perhaps as soon as Saturday from using federal money to cover evening. abortions. “You don’t go to the floor unless Ellsworth’s compromise also you’re there — and we’re there,” would make the limits on federal said Rep. John Larson of Connecti- funding for abortion more perma- cut, the No. 4 Democrat in the nent than current law. House. The measure has won the grudg- But House Majority Leader Steny ing support of many abortion-rights Hoyer, D-Md., said Friday that he supporters in Congress. But Ells- has told lawmakers to be prepared worth and others were still working to come in on Sunday or even next to rally conservative Democrats week. “There are many people who MARK WILSON/GETTY PHOTO behind the compromise, which anti- are still looking to get a comfort From left, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas; Rep. George Miller, D-Calif.; and Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., take part Friday in abortion groups have sharply criti- level,” a tired-sounding Hoyer said. a House Rules Committee meeting. The House may vote on the health care overhaul as soon as Saturday. cized. President , who Democratic leaders are also has made health care legislation the dence that Washington, D.C., is out Party lines who say no,” said 19-term Rep. Pete working to allay concerns about centerpiece of his domestic agenda, of touch with the American people Stark, D-Calif. “When they look up how the bill limits illegal immi- planned to visit the Capitol on than the fact that Democrats are GOP leaders boasted Friday that all at the board, do they really want to grants’ access to the health care Saturday morning to rally House going to continue in their headlong 177 House Republicans stood ready vote against providing coverage to system. Democrats. rush to pass a government takeover to oppose the $1.2 trillion bill, which millions of people?” Some conservatives have said He pushed back the visit for a day of health care in the wake of rising would create a new federally But Maryland Rep. Chris Van they are concerned that there are because of the shooting at Fort unemployment in this nation,” said supervised insurance marketplace Hollen, who heads the Democratic insufficient identification require- Hood, Texas, according to the White Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, the No. 3 where the uninsured could Congressional Campaign Commit- ments to prevent illegal immi- House. Republican in the House, citing new purchase coverage. tee, said party leaders are reluctant grants from getting public-funded With 258 seats — counting newly figures that showed national un- to go to a floor vote without a health benefits. On the other side of elected New York Rep. Bill Owens, employment had risen to 10.2 per- guaranteed result. the issue, several Latino lawmakers who was sworn in Friday — Demo- cent in October. not unusual on major legislation. “You don’t want to roll the dice on are angry about a late addition to crats can afford to lose 40 members Hoyer expressed concern that Six years ago, Republicans held this,” he said. the bill that would effectively pre- and still pass the health care bill. GOP lawmakers might attempt to open the vote to create a new House Speaker vent illegal immigrants from using No Republicans are expected to disrupt the voting by making re- Medicare prescription drug benefit cleared one roadblock on her side of their own money to buy health vote for the more-than-$1 trillion peated motions to adjourn, as they for hours as they tried to round up the aisle by persuading Rep. An- insurance. measure, which would expand cov- have in the past. votes. thony Weiner, D-N.Y., to withdraw erage to 96 percent of Americans Minority Leader , And one veteran lawmaker pre- his demand for a vote on a contro- Janet Hook and Richard Simon of over the next decade and begin R-, said Friday that party lead- dicted that when the voting actually versial amendment that would cre- Tribune Newspapers’ Washington reshaping the nation’s health care ers had not decided what they starts, more lawmakers will come ate a single-payer system in which Bureau contributed to this report. system. would do during the vote. over to the majority. the government would cover all “I have never seen greater evi- Such last-minute uncertainty is “I don’t believe all those people Americans, a long-held goal of the [email protected]

8 Democrats on the edge With the House vote looming on the $1 trillion health care bill, several Democratic members have cause to be nervous. Here are eight examples, along with the direction he or she is leaning.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Tom Perriello, Vir- Walt Minnick, Idaho: Frank Kratovil, Jason Altmire, John Adler, New Bob Etheridge, Artur Davis, Ala- Mary Jo Kilroy, Ohio: ginia: His central Another freshman, Maryland: This Pennsylvania: A Jersey: This fresh- North Carolina: bama: Leaving Con- Her district is almost Virginia district went he won a close race in freshman in a conser- second-term “Blue man won a seat held Considering a run for gress to run for gov- evenly split between for John McCain a district that favors vative district was Dog” from a conser- by Republicans for a Senate and possibly ernor — and seeming Republicans and instead of Barack the GOP. Minnick has hanged in effigy vative area, he’s century. He has said worrying that a yes to believe a yes vote Democrats, and she Obama, and he won said he is likely to during the rancorous pressing for stronger he’s voting no be- vote could be used is politically danger- narrowly won in his seat from a six- vote no, citing a lack health care debate language to prevent cause the bill “in- against him, he re- ous, he says he’ll vote 2008. She’s likely to term incumbent. He of cost controls in the over the summer. He illegal immigrants creases the burden mains undecided. no because “we risk vote yes. says he’s “been trying bill. is likely to vote no. from purchasing on middle-class disaster if we get this to get to yes” but is health insurance but families.” wrong.” — James Oliphant, uncommitted. remains undecided. Tribune Newspapers

Plan a visit to The Swamp Julie’s Health Club The latest political news from Washington is at chicagotribune.com/swamp Where alternative and mainstream health meet: chicagotribune.com/julie

®

INVENTORY CLEARANCE antb obndwt n te fe.Ofricue pih only. upright includes Offer offer. other store any participating with See combined reserved. be rights Cannot All LLC. Holdings, Oreck ©2009 $172 reg $ 99 % www.oreck.c at manual owners in warranty see details, For apply. limitations †Some Now 7 4 50 OFF ALL TOTES ® BOOTS ON SALE Save $97.00 Get the Oreck XLDeluxe for only While supplies last. $199 while supplies last.Was $399 $ 99 • Powerful and easy to maneuver • Incredibly lightweight at 9-lbs.* 34through 11/15/09 • Uses 1/3 the energy of most WOMEN’S CYNTHIA other major brands • Available in Black • Traps 99.9% of all particles down to 0.3 microns • Medium & Wide Widths • 3-year limited warranty†

• Waterproof Stk #3539 details. for s * • Warm Lined Approximate weight without cord. om • Full Grain Leather Upper Open on Sundays. NOW • Steel Toe Ad362 STARIDE 1/2 • Exceptional • Non Marking Sole OFF Warmth • EH & Puncture Resistant Offer expires 11/25/09. • Fur Lining Mens Sizes 7 to 15 Limit one per customer. • Waterproof BOTH LOCATIONS OPEN 7 DAYS

Algonquin Chicago Westmont WOMEN’S KAY (847) 658-3570 (773) 477-1700 (630) 789-0300 • Waterproof Oswego Vernon Hills Naperville 5321 N. C LARK • C HIC AGO • 7 7 3.784.8936 (630) 554-9340 (847) 549-9991 (630) 548-5900 • Warm Lined Specializing in expert fit and personalized service Wilmette Gurnee Glen Ellyn C HICAGOLAND ’ S L ARGEST F AMILY S HOE S TORE (847) 853-1090 (847) 856-1278 (630) 942-0300 w . cermak • berwyn, illinois 60402 •ּ O PEN 7 DAYS • FREE PARKING 6548 M-F 9 to 8 • Sat 9 to 6 • Sun 10 to 6 Orland Park Schaumburg Lyons (708) 226-5950 (847) 884-1790 (708) 447-0600 708.795.8181 K AY S HOES Arlington Heights St. Charles We Service All Makes, 2839 N M ILWAUKEE A VE • C HICAGO . 773-489-4350 (847) 255-1700 (630) 587-4000 Brands & Models Open 7 Days • Free convenient parking • Phone orders welcome