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Clyburn: Dems still don't have health votes
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Tuesday that the votes are still not there to pass healthcare reform legislation.
The Democrats' chief vote-counter said that he is "confident" he will get the votes, but Democratic leaders are hoping to get vote done by this weekend, a date that is inching closer.
Clyburn echoed the tone of most House Democratic leaders again on Tuesday, but his words contrasted with Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson's (Conn.) claim made Monday that the votes are there.
His comments come as Democratic leaders are weighing a plan to pass the reform package that would bypass a tough, direct vote on the Senate's healthcare bill. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), a key undecided centrist, said that using the so-called "deem and pass" plan is "wrong."
The South Carolina Democrat said that leadership is still ironing out other issues with holdouts.
"The fact of the matter is there are still some issues involving how we're going to pay for this that members want to see before they make their final commitments," he said.
Clyburn cautioned earlier on Tuesday that the vote could slip past this weekend and even Easter, which is on April 4. But he said on Fox that does not mean that Democrats won't pass the bill.
"I don't count those votes just because I'm confident that we'll get them. I only count them when they make the commitment, and I do not have 216 commitments yet, though I think we'll get there in time for the vote," he said.
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