Pelosi: Health Bill Horse Trading Is Over

The store is closed for House Democrats looking for sweeteners to sway them into voting for the health bill, Nancy Pelosi warned yesterday. Pelosi stressed that she won't be making any changes to the final legislation for the sake of holdouts, meaning that there will be no more "Cornhusker Kickbacks," although she may now have a harder time mustering the necessary 216 votes.

Pelosi's tough talk is bad news for lobbyists seeking last-minute changes, although she may be forced to retreat from her promise if she can't get the votes, Politico notes. President Obama and his cabinet are expected to lean heavily on wavering Democrats this week ahead of a vote on the reconciliation package that will come Thursday at the earliest.
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