August 28th, 2009

Reports the Tribune-Democrat:

Rep. John Murtha, D-Johns-town, told The Tribune-Democrat on Thursday that he envisions some form of health-care reform to be passed this year by the House of Representatives.

Murtha made the comment during an interview after the kickoff breakfast meeting for the 2009 United Way of the Laurel Highlands fund campaign at the Holiday Inn Downtown.

“We’ll probably pass something, sometime before the end of the year,” he said.

Before any reform can become reality, it must pass not only in the House, but in the Senate as well and then be signed by President Barack Obama.

Murtha said the death earlier this week of Sen. Ted Kennedy could impact health-care reform.

Such reform was the late senator’s signature cause.

For several months at least, Kennedy’s death will deprive the Democrats of a vote that could prove crucial for health-care reform, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont has said.

Kennedy died late Tuesday at the age of 77.

But Murtha said time is not the key in passing health-care reform.

The type and scope of the reform is the key, he said.