GOP lawmaker claims protests may force delay to Saturday vote

The thousands of protesters on Capitol Hill Thursday may force a delay in Saturday's planned healthcare vote, one Republican congressman claimed.

Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said that rumors were circulating among Republicans on Capitol Hill that the GOP-led "House call" had shaken some Democratic votes for the legislation, forcing a delay in the measure.

"We hope that it had the effect that we wanted it to, which was to let some of the members of the Congress who were on the fence on this thing or are in marginal districts know that they are facing a backlash from the people of this country," Franks said in an interview on a conservative radio affiliate. "I think it did that."

"I'm even hearing some very vague rumors that they're considering calling off the vote Saturday night," Franks add, cautioning that the news was just a rumor.

"I think that some of those votes are tentative, and if that develops in light of the last elections we've had recently and this massive rally of people in Washington...and if that makes enough people nervous, they may be forced to call the vote off," the Arizona conservative added. "And that would be such a victory, because if they do that, it means the people just need to turn up the heat, and we have a chance to win."

Democratic leaders have planned a vote for Saturday on their health legislation, and are working to ensure 218 votes for the package to pass it. Among remaining issues that could affect the votes is language in the bill that governs federal funding for abortion.

Franks said that Republicans may be able to defeat the rule for the bill, effectively stopping it in its track, if Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), the leader of pro-life Democrats, decides to join with Republicans in opposing the rules governing that debate.

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