W.H. requests Rockefeller for meeting

Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) told The Hill on Wednesday he was asked to come to the White House for a 3 p.m. meeting, a day after announcing his opposition to a Finance Committee healthcare bill, but
denied the meeting was intended as a heavy-handed effort by the Obama administration.

Rockefeller would not say who asked him to visit the White House, nor give much details on the topic besides healthcare.

"We're just going to talk, that's all," he said.

Rockefeller told reporters during a conference call Tuesday that he could not support the bill released by committee chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) because Baucus has offered Republicans too many concessions, leaving a bill that was inadequate to control health costs. The senator is the second-ranking Democrat on the committee and chairs a Health subcommittee.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Rockefeller spoke to senior Democrats at a lunch on Wednesday and explained his opposition.

"If you look at Sen. Rockefeller's statement carefully, it says 'in its present form,' and I think in its present form there are probably several members on his side who would not vote for it," Durbin said.

"That's not what they'll be presented with. Ultimately, they'll have a bill that has worked its way through the committee, and that's what Sen. Rockefeller explained to us at lunch."