Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Benny Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News

The Senate’s version of the health care reform bill will not likely pass in the House unless some changes are made, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her weekly news conference on Thursday.

“I don’t see the votes for it at this time,” Pelosi said. “There isn’t a market right now for proceeding with the full bill unless something changes in the Senate bill.”

When asked if the bill, in its current state, will be passed in time for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address next week, Pelosi said that there are fundamentals included in the Senate’s version that make it problematic for some House members.

“There are certain things that members just cannot support,” she said.

Issues regarding education and economic policy are being pushed aside, but there are a growing number of constituents who believe that a decision regarding health care reform must come sooner rather than later, according to the Speaker.

“We have to get a bill passed, we know that,” she said. “That’s a predicate that we’ve all subscribed to.”