House Dems set stage for pivotal health vote

WASHINGTON -- House Democrats have cleared the way for a pivotal floor vote on health care overhaul as early as the weekend, after tweaking their 1,990-page bill to crack down harder on insurance companies.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Americans are ready for comprehensive reform in a statement accompanying dozens of last-minutes changes to the 10-year, $1.2 trillion bill.

Publication of the changes -- released late Tuesday -- started a 72-hour legislative clock, meaning that a floor vote could take place as early as Saturday.

But with no Republican backing for the measure, Democrats will need overwhelming support from their own caucus. And a festering disagreement over how to prevent federal funds from being used to pay for abortion remained unresolved.

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