Conservatives rally against health care bill

Washington (News Terupdate) - Conservative activists tried to put the brakes on health care reform Tuesday, holding rallies on Capitol Hill intended to sway wavering Democrats days before a final expected House of Representatives vote on a sweeping $875 billion measure.

The plan, which would constitute the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid more than 40 years ago, passed the Senate in December.

If it clears the House, it will go to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. Although Democrats still plan to make revisions to the bill, final passage of the landmark measure would be a huge victory for the president.

It would also mark a major legislative defeat for Republicans and their allies in the conservative movement.

"If [the] bill can't pass the House, scrap the bill, start over," Rep. Mike Pence, R-Indiana, told demonstrators from a range of conservative organizations, including the Tea Party Express, Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks.

Washington (CNN) -- Conservative activists tried to put the brakes on health care reform Tuesday, holding rallies on Capitol Hill intended to sway wavering Democrats days before a final expected House of Representatives vote on a sweeping $875 billion measure.

The plan, which would constitute the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid more than 40 years ago, passed the Senate in December.

If it clears the House, it will go to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. Although Democrats still plan to make revisions to the bill, final passage of the landmark measure would be a huge victory for the president.

It would also mark a major legislative defeat for Republicans and their allies in the conservative movement.

"If [the] bill can't pass the House, scrap the bill, start over," Rep. Mike Pence, R-Indiana, told demonstrators from a range of conservative organizations, including the Tea Party Express, Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks.

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