Rules Committee: Rep. Cardoza will oppose 'deem and pass'

Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) appeared to switch positions on healthcare on Saturday, saying he'd vote against a rule that deems the Senate bill as passed.

Cardoza, a previously undecided lawmaker who'd voted to pass Democrats' healthcare bill in November, said he would vote against the process his party plans to move forward on healthcare.

"I don't believe it's smart of us to pass a bill this momentous with a deemed rule," Cardoza said in a Rules Committee markup. "I want to make the announcement in the committee right now that I don't support that, and won't support a rule that does it that way."

The California lawmaker's decision would peel off another vote from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) previous House majority as the House races toward a Sunday healthcare vote.

Cardoza said he would prefer to see a separate vote on the rules for the healthcare bill, the reconciliation package, and the Senate bill itself.