The Final Countdown: Is the End in Sight for Health Care Bill?

March 16, 2010— -- As the health care bill enters its final stretch, both supporters and critics of the legislation have turned up the heat.

Congressional staffers have been put on notice to expect protests in the corridors of the Capitol today as groups from both sides descend on Washington for this week's raucous final battle over health care overhaul. A memo to staffers sent Monday told offices to "review their policies regarding demonstrators, as well as applicable office emergency action plans" but said the protestors are expected to be "non-iolent, and none have indicated a desire to practice civil disobedience."

Interest groups on both sides have ramped up the pressure and have hit the airwaves. More than $10 million is expected to be spent on ads this week alone.

President Obama expressed confidence Monday that there will be enough votes to pass health care legislation. The White House has set a deadline of this weekend for the House to pass the bill, before the president departs for his international trip Sunday. But it remains unclear whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has the votes she needs.

To get the needed 216 votes in the House, Democratic leaders are focusing their efforts on the 37 lawmakers who voted against the health care bill the first time around. So far, 21 of those members of Congress haven't changed their mind, 16 are either undecided or won't say how they are going to vote, and none have said they would vote "Yes."

Pelosi insists they will have the votes by the end of the week.

"When we bring the bill to the floor, then we will have the votes," she told reporters Monday.

Obama amped up the pressure on his fellow Democrats Monday, telling them to vote for the bill regardless of what the polls say.

"I want some courage! I want us to do the right thing, Ohio!" a fired-up Obama said at an event in the state.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, a liberal who voted against the House bill last year and argues that the legislation doesn't go far enough, was invited on Air Force One to travel to Ohio and back with the president. Kucinich declined to comment on how he will vote. Another wavering Democrat, Chet Edwards of Texas, also dodged questions.

As Democratic leaders charge ahead, Republicans are accusing them of using procedural tricks to ram the bill through Congress.

"The main bill is a big wet, smelly, infested dog," charged Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. "This huge dog of a bill."

Democrats expect to have a final cost estimate for Obama's bill by the end of today, setting the stage for a final vote in the House by the end of the week.