U.S. Democrat rejects health bill compromise

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Democratic hopes for passing a broad healthcare overhaul in the U.S. Senate took a hit on Thursday when a crucial party holdout, Ben Nelson, rejected a compromise on abortion funding aimed at winning his vote.

Senate Democratic leaders, racing the clock to finish work on the bill before leaving for the holidays, struggled to line up the 60 votes they need to overcome Republican procedural hurdles.

Democrats have no margin of error -- they control exactly 60 votes and face so far unified Republican opposition.

Nelson, an abortion rights opponent, said compromise language designed to strengthen a ban on using federal funds for abortions was not good enough to meet his concerns.

"As it is, without further modifications, the language concerning abortion isn't sufficient," Nelson said in a statement, adding he would not back Democrats on a series of upcoming procedural votes without more changes to the bill.

The compromise language had been developed with the help of Democratic Senator Robert Casey, another abortion rights opponent who supports the bill but has been working to find a solution.

Nelson is the potential 60th vote on the Senate healthcare plan, President Barack Obama's top domestic legislative priority, although several other Democrats remain publicly uncommitted and some are awaiting independent cost estimates.

WRAPUP 2-U.S. Democrat rejects health bill compromise | Reuters