Larson: Dems will stick together in House health bill vote

House Democrats will largely stick together to pass the health reform bill unveiled Thursday, their caucus chairman said Thursday.

Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, predicted that liberals and centrists alike would sign onto the legislation introduced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this morning, which Larson likened in historical significance to the establishment of Social Security and Medicare.

"What I think everybody in the caucus sticks by is the notion that they know how important it is to have healthcare reform," Larson said during an appearance on ABC News's "Top Line" webcast. "We're going to pass healthcare reform, and we've got the votes to do it."

"I know it appears to you guys that it's a lot like herding cats, but nonetheless, we're unified and coming together behind [Pelosi]," Larson added.

The fourth-ranking House Democrat talked down the Senate health bill's surtaxes on high-value insurance plans as potentially violating President Barack Obama's pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans, echoing words from Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) yesterday.

Larson stopped short of predicting the taxes would be eliminated in conference between the House and Senate bills, but signaled a belief that the final bill would rely more heavily on a new tax on high-income Americans.

"I feel strongly that the end of the day the Senate and the House will come together on what's best for the American people," he explained.

Larson also chided his Connecticut colleague, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), for being out-of-step with the state's voters in his opposition to the public option, a central part of the House and Senate plans.

"Connecticut overwhelmingly supports a public option," Larson said. "I have great respect for Joe Lieberman, I just happen to disagree with him. Joe is Joe and I can't account for Joe."

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