Senator Harry Reid: No Health Care Vote In Senate Until Fall

WASHINGTON (AP) - The top Democrat in the Senate says lawmakers won’t vote until after August on health care, a blow to President Barack Obama’s ambitious timetable.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters Thursday the Finance Committee will act on its portion of the bill before Congress’ monthlong break. Then Reid will merge that bill with separate legislation already passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

The Nevada Democrat says the decision to delay a vote was made Wednesday night in the hopes of getting a final bipartisan bill.

Obama had pressed for the full House and Senate to vote on respective bills before the August recess. The news came just hours before the president’s fresh appeal for a health care overhaul at an appearance in Ohio.