Kucinich changes stance on health care, will vote yes

US lawmaker Dennis J. Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio, dropped his long-standing opposition to President Barack Obama's health care reform plan, saying he will vote in favor of the bill.

Speaking at a news conference in the Capitol, Kucinich said "I've decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation. If my vote is to be counted, let it count now for passage of the bill, hopefully in the direction of comprehensive health care reform."

Kucinich made the announcement as he voted against an earlier version of the bill. The longtime congressman, however, stressed that he was still dissatisfied with key parts of the plan.

Meanwhile, President Obama described the turnabout as "a good sign," saying that he had thanked Kucinich for his decision to vote yes on health care.

Kucinich made an effort to explain influential factors in making his new decision, saying, "We have to be very careful that the potential of President Obama's presidency not be destroyed by this debate."

"Even though I have many differences with him on policy, there's something much bigger at stake here for America," he added.

Kucinich's decision to switch his vote comes as Republicans are still against the sweeping reform bill, arguing that it is the biggest government takeover of healthcare.

President Obama needs to round up 216 votes to secure the bill's passage as the vote is expected to be taken at the end of the week.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121080§ionid=3510203.