Senate Dems frustrated with sway held by moderates

[November 23, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Democratic senator says moderates in his party shouldn't be allowed to dictate the terms of the health care debate and that the final bill should include a government-run option for Americans lacking insurance.

That view, by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, suggests the difficulty facing Democratic leaders in coming weeks as they try to rally support for legislation that would extend health care coverage to roughly 31 million people who lack it.

The Senate agreed on Saturday to begin debate. Three moderate Democrats and Connecticut independent Joe Lieberman have threatened to vote against the final bill and leave Democrats shy of the 60 votes needed to break a Republican filibuster.

Brown appeared Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

[Associated Press; By ANNE FLAHERTY]

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