What's next for health care reform?

Washington (News Terupdate) - President Obama has made it clear that it's time for a simple up and down vote on his health care plan, noting that Americans are "waiting for us to act."

But getting to the vote might not be so simple.

Republicans continue to voice their opposition to the reform bill. Some, such as House Minority Leader John Boehner, have called for scrapping the bills entirely and starting over.

Two Democratic aides said the goal is for the House to vote on the Senate health care bill and a vote on reconciliation instructions before Obama leaves on March 18 for his trip to Australia and Indonesia.

But House Democrats don't like aspects of the Senate's version -- especially the absence of a government-run public health care option -- so they will unlikely just pass it without making some changes. That would mean a possible separate package would be introduced.

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