Pelosi: Healthcare vote ‘possible’ in January

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) set no deadline for a House
healthcare vote following a White House meeting Wednesday with President Barack
Obama.

The Speaker deflected questions about the timing of a vote,
only saying it was “possible” the vote could take place by the end of the
month.

“We will bring the bill to the floor when we are ready, and
hopefully that will be soon,” Pelosi said following the second meeting between
Obama and House leaders in two days.

{mosads}She added the House and Senate “are very close to
reconciliation” on the two versions of the bill.

But when asked if the bill would pass this month, Democratic
lawmakers seemed unsure, and there was a lengthy pause before Pelosi said, “It’s
possible.”

Other Democrats attending Wednesday’s meeting included Reps.
Charles Rangel (N.Y.), George Miller (Calif.), Louise Slaughter (N.Y.) and
Henry Waxman (Calif.).

Pelosi described the series of meetings as “an intense
couple of days.”

When asked what the president’s message was, Waxman, the
chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said: “Get it done.”

Pelosi said the House has selected a few issues it wants to
shepherd through the process, including affordability, accountability for
insurance companies and access to insurance.

“We really have to be able to sell it,” said Rangel,
chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Not just to the Democratic
caucus, but to the American people.”