Clyburn: Obama to announce his health care position soon

The health care adviser in the White House is calling for an up or down vote on health care legislation and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to rally Democrats to support a final proposal. Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office on Health Reform told NBC’s Meet the Press that Obama is ready to move his health care bill using a legislative tactic in the Senate that would require only 51 votes for passage.

James Clyburn

South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, who has had a part in crafting the legislation, says he expects President Obama to announce Wednesday or Thursday what his position is on the bill.

C-N-N reports that Obama’s health care plan would create coverage to 31 million people and change insurance industry regulations. It includes a mandate that almost everyone obtain health insurance or pay a fine. It provides financial aid to those who cannot afford to purchase insurance. That would be paid for using a tax on the unearned income of the wealthy.

Clyburn says the bill to be voted on will be a reconciliation package.  He says the main work is already done and now it’s time to get rid of the special deals that some states like Florida received.  Democrats have said the plan is for the House to pass the version the Senate passed last year, and negotiators in both chambers would agree to a separate package of changes that would go before the Senate using reconciliation rules.