WASHINGTON- U.S. President Barack Obama urged lawmakers on Wednesday to coalesce around elements in healthcare reform that could be agreed and said the new Republican senator from Massachusetts should be seated before a vote on the bill.

Here's one thing I know and I just want to make sure that this is off the table: The Senate certainly shouldn't try to jam anything through until Scott Brown is seated, Obama said in an interview with ABC News, according to a partial transcript released by the network.

The people of Massachusetts spoke. He's got to be part of that process, Obama said.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Editing by Sandra Maler)

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