Dems Make Last-Minute Deals

Though Nancy Pelosi warned there’d be no horse-trading in the lead-up to Sunday’s vote on health-care reform, the House bill has recently been modified to the tune of $8.5 billion in changes that benefit 11 states. Some wavering Democrats from the Pacific Northwest to the Upper Midwest urged for increasing Medicare payments to hospitals and doctors, while others hoped to secure the Obama administration’s plan for an immigration law overhaul. Rep. Jerrold Nadler said Pelosi made a deal with New York’s congressional delegation to the tune of $2.1 billion after he said they’d have problems voting for the health care reform bill without certain changes. Another $100 million was added to fund hospitals that treat poor people in Tennessee. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn) announced Thursday he’ll vote yes. Rep Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) switched his vote after President Obama personally assured him an immigration reform package would soon follow health-care reform.