Nearly all of Colorado’s congressional delegation is split along party lines as the House vote on a sweeping health care bill approaches.
The only fence-sitter is Democratic U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, whose 4th Congressional District seat is considered the state’s most vulnerable in next year’s mid-term elections.
“She is making a final decision. She has some serious concerns about the bill,” said Markey spokesman Ben Marter.
The first-term congresswoman expressed reservations last week about the bill, citing its $1.1 trillion price tag and the fiscal effect on states if a proposal to expand Medicaid passes.
Markey, the first Democrat elected to the seat in 25 years, has faced enormous pressure by both political parties and her constituents over the past few months.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said earlier Friday the vote may be moved to Sunday or even early next week because the Democrats were short of the needed 218 votes. However, House Democrats have cleared an impasse over abortion that has been holding up the vote.
A vote is expected today — after President Barack Obama makes a late-morning trip to the Capitol to make one final pitch for the legislation.
Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., said he and other abortion foes will be given a chance to insert tougher abortion restrictions into the legislation during debate on the House floor.
There was still wrangling over language pertaining to illegal immigrants.
The health care bill would create a federally supervised insurance marketplace for the uninsured, which includes a controversial government-run plan.
The Congressional Budget Office said the measure would extend coverage to 96 percent of all eligible Americans within 10 years.
Colorado Democrats supporting the bill are U.S. Reps. John Salazar, Ed Perlmutter, Jared Polis and Diana DeGette.
The Republicans opposing it are U.S. Reps. Mike Coffman and Doug Lamborn.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Karen Crummy: 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com
