AARP set to back House health care bill

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Washington (CNN) -- The push to overhaul health care is set to receive a major boost Thursday as the nation's largest organization of older Americans endorses legislation drafted by top House Democrats.

A Democratic source with direct knowledge of the matter said the AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that advocates for people 50 and older, will come out in favor of the measure.

The AARP's imprimatur comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, oversees final changes to the $1.1 trillion health care bill, which is likely set to come to a final vote Saturday.

A 42-page manager's amendment on the health care legislation posted Tuesday night made mostly technical changes in the nearly 2,000-page bill compiled from three Democratic proposals passed by three House committees.

By making the changes public Tuesday, House Democratic leaders could open floor debate on the bill Friday, while fulfilling their pledge to allow 72 hours of review before bringing the measure to the full chamber.

Meanwhile, the powerful American Medical Association also is set to weigh in on the debate, announcing its position on the House health care bill at a noon news conference.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/05/hea...care/index.html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A very good sign to the Blue Democrats still sitting on the fence.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The AARP support doesn't surprise me. After all, people in the 50 - 64 age range are most likely to face difficulty obtaining affordable health care coverage if not covered by an employer group plan. Improving access to affordable health care coverage and adding an additional choice into the mix will benefit a significant segment of those individuals that the AARP represents and advocates for.