Durbin: Dem leaders met face-to-face with senators to lock down votes

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Durbin: Dem leaders met face-to-face with senators to lock down votes
By Michael O'Brien - 03/21/10 11:13 AM ET


Senate Democratic leaders met face-to-face with every one of their members this week, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Sunday.

Durbin, Democrats' top vote-counter in the Senate, said that he and other party leaders had met with each one of their senators on healthcare to ensure that there was a strong majority to move forward with legislation the House is expected to pass Sunday.

"This last week, Harry Reid, our leader, Sen. Schumer and Sen. Murray and I have met with in fact every Democratic senator face-to-face so that we understand the importance of this vote," Durbin said during an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) released a letter to House Democrats pledging to follow through with a vote on a series of changes to the original Senate healthcare bill. Reid said that a "significant majority" of senators had signed onto those changes.

"Let me tell you something: I think there may be even more than 51," Durbin said Sunday.

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http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/88101-durbin-dem-leaders-met-face-to-face-with-senators-to-lock-down-votes