Meanwhile, Democratic leaders in the House are scrambling to secure enough votes to pass the Senate’s version of the healthcare reform package. Intense pressure is reportedly being placed on some Democratic lawmakers to support the party line. New York Democrat Eric Massa is claiming he was forced out of Congress by White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel because of his opposition to the bill. Massa, who has been a vocal supporter of a single-payer system, made the charge in a radio interview on Monday, just after he resigned from his seat after being accused of sexual harassment.

Rep. Eric Massa: “Rahm Emanuel is son of the devil’s spawn. He is an individual who would sell his mother to get a vote. He would strap his children to the front end of a steam locomotive. And if he doesn’t like that, he can come after me personally. He hates my guts. He’s hated me since day one, and now he wins. So he’ll get rid of me, and this bill will pass, and that’ll end — and I don’t know what we’re going to do in this country.”

Former Congressman Eric Massa speaking on Monday. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio is also reportedly coming under increasing pressure to back the healthcare reform bill.