March 18, 2010
GOP loses fight with Democrats over health votes
The Associated PressRepublicans have lost an effort to force House Democrats to hold a direct vote on the health overhaul bill.
Democrats want to use a special procedure that would let the House automatically approve the $940 billion measure when lawmakers vote to begin debating a separate proposal that would revise that big health bill.
Democratic leaders hope this maneuver would ease the political pain for lawmakers hesitant about voting directly on the giant health legislation — which the Senate has approved.
Republicans tried to block that move, but Democrats in the House prevailed by a 222-203 vote on Thursday.
The House is set to debate the health bill on Sunday.