White House sets March 18 goal for House health vote

[NJmaverick]

The White House hopes to win House approval of the Senate's healthcare bill by March Madness.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday the White House hopes to see the House approve the healthcare bill by March 18, the first day of the NCAA college basketball tournament and just before President Barack Obama leaves the country on an international trip.

Based on conversatins the White House has had with Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, healthcare reform is on track to move through Congress before Obama leaves for the trip to Indonesia and Australia, Gibbs said.

"We're leaving on March 18th and we believe that we're on schedule, based on our conversations with the speaker and the majority leader, to get something done by then," Gibbs said Thursday during an appearance on MSNBC

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/84933-gibbs-white-house-hopes-to-finish-health-bill-by-march-18th

[bigdarryl]

1. DAMN!!! I hate these deadlines from the White House they always back fire

they need to fire somebody in that White House

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. The day after St Patrick's Day

the Leprechauns should be still around for good luck?

[Clio the Leo]

3. Well, one of the highest ranking Irish government members will be there...

... the day before. Does that count? :)

[Romulox]

4. What happened to Xmas? LOL. nt

[Peacetrain]

5. I smell pie!... It will be such a relief to get this done

[frazzled]

6. That would be a nice birthday present for me

Better than the one I got in 2003, when we learned that the next day Shock and Awe would provide the opening salvos of the Iraq War.

[subterranean]

7. And this time they mean it!

[AlinPA]

8. Here we go again. ...By August...by Thanksgiving...by Christmas...by Easter...

by Memorial Day?....

[denimgirly]

9. Although we have seen these WH dates seem to carry little meaning for Congress....

I think it is necessary to at least show some kind of leadership for those watching at home. Considering as how most people watching dont realize this stunt has been tried many times last year it now comes off strong. There is a high chance this date too will pass unfulfilled but hey, one's gotta try.