Rep. Murphy open to 'yes' vote on health bill

A key Democrat in upstate New York is considering switching his vote to yes on the healthcare bill.

Rep. Scott Murphy (D-N.Y.) is telling local media that he is keeping an open mind, and he sounds optimistic that the high costs that concerned him in the House bill in November may be mitigated.

"That’s why I’m spending the time to read the bill, to get into the details, and if, at the end of the day, I think it’s going to make the system better for people in my district, I’m going to vote for it," Murphy told the Oneonta Daily Star.

Murphy, who won a special election a year ago this month, could face a tough reelection battle. He voted against the House healthcare bill when it was approved by that chamber on Nov. 7.

Democratic leaders need 216 votes to move the Senate healthcare bill through their chamber. They're hoping to proceed by the end of this week.

It's not clear that they have the votes. According to a running survey by The Hill, 35 Democrats are firm or likely "no" voters or are leaning against the bill.

Murphy is listed as undecided in The Hill's survey. No member who voted no last time has said he or she will vote yes this time.