Democratic Party leaders haven't lobbied Blue Dog for his vote on healthcare bill

House Democratic leaders have not lobbied one centrist, leaving their party's right flank open on a key piece of legislation, according to a statement from Rep. Gene Taylor (Miss.).

Rep. Taylor, a Blue Dog Democrat who has said he will not support Democrats' health reform bill, said that party leaders have scarcely bothered to win back his vote on the legislation.

"I've been fortunate enough to do this for 20 years, and people know when I say I'm going to do something, that's what I'm going to do," the conservative Democrat said during an appearance on Fox News. "So I really have not been lobbied with by the House leadership."

That freedom, Taylor asserted, has left him with an opportunity to try to convince Democratic colleagues in the House to vote against the party's health bill.

"I've been spending a lot of time with my members who are kind of going from pillar to post saying, 'Look, we don't need this; we can't afford this,' " Taylor explained. "Let's think it through. Let's do some bullets that make the system better rather than this shotgun approach."

The House Democrats' health bill is set for a vote this Saturday, and Democratic leaders have been working to ensure the necessary 218 votes to pass the historic legislation and send it to conference, where it will await the passage of a Senate bill.

Taylor has announced his opposition to his party's healthcare reform legislation, citing concerns over current unpaid obligations when it comes to government providing health coverage to Americans.

He said he's not alone, either, among Democrats.

"I think a lot of people know what I'm saying is the truth," Taylor said.

Watch a video of the interview below. It starts at 4:00.

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