Publicly, Owens still undecided on health care bill

WASHINGTON — Rep. William L. Owens came under growing pressure on health care reform legislation Tuesday as part of a shrinking number of undecided votes in the House. He gave no indication whether he would support the contentious proposal.

In remaining undecided, Mr. Owens was among a handful of lawmakers gaining the attention of the White House, where President Obama was making congressional calls ahead of a House vote later this week, as well as the attention of interest groups on each side of the issue.

Until a bill is formally introduced — probably Wednesday — Mr. Owens isn’t prepared to say how he would vote, said his spokesman, Sean Magers.

However, he said, the congressman remains focused on whether the legislation encourages or discourages small businesses to add employees and whether Medicaid expenses climb significantly in New York, as Gov. David A. Paterson has warned.

In addition, Mr. Owens met at his request last week with Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Care Reform, to discuss aspects of President Obama’s latest proposal to Congress, Mr. Magers said. The president offered his own suggestions for the compromise measure, called a reconciliation bill, that will resolve differences between the House and Senate and allow the Senate to pass it with a simple majority, free of any filibuster threat.

Mr. Obama planned to continue reaching out to lawmakers, although he planned no visits to Capitol Hill as of Tuesday afternoon, White House officials said.