A showdown is set for Sunday in Washington on what's being called the biggest piece of social legislation in a lifetime.
The health care reform bill is not a done deal, but analysts say President Obama is probably a lot closer to victory than some are acknowledging in public. As a possibly historic vote looms, abortion remains a potential sticking point.
In Virginia Friday, President Obama made an 11th hour pitch for health care legislation. He's hoping to sway undecided lawmakers ahead of Sunday.
Before a crowd at a Virginia college the President said, "starting this year, thousands of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions will be able to purchase health insurance."
"Here we are on the cusp of what has been a multi-generational effort on the part of progressives and democrats to expand access to health care to virtually all Americans," said Tulane Political Science professor Thomas Langston.
If the sweeping senate bill passes the House, and Langston believes it will, most Americans beginning in 2014 would be required to purchase insurance. If they refuse, they would face penalties. Also, families with incomes up to $88,000 a year would receive government help to defray costs.
So how do we as a country pay for it?
Langston said Medicare taxes, for example, will increase one percentage point for people who make more than $200,000 a year. The same goes for a couple who brings in $250,000 a year. On top of that, there's also a tax for investment income.
A tax increase is just one hangup for Republicans. "In their heart of hearts they want a single payer.. Canadian-style system of health care, and so you see a breakdown of trust between the two parties and wildly divergent assertions about what this bill contains and what this bill would do," said Langston.
Republican Congressman Joseph Cao, a former seminarian, like many Catholics is committed to health care reform, but disagrees on the language on abortion funding.
"If we are successful in getting strong language back into the bill, the senate bill, then I will reconsider my bill. Whether or not I vote yes or no still has to be determined," said Cao.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes the bill while 60,000 nuns are in favor. It's that support from the sisters some analysts say conservative Democrats who are on the fence might vote yes.
Langston said while this is no done deal, if it passes, it will be remarkable. He called it the biggest piece of social legislation to win congressional approval in a lifetime, and it's all happening on the heels of a recession.
The unofficial vote count has 215 lawmakers voting yes or at least leaning that way and 216 no votes or lawmakers leaning toward no.
