Veteran U.S. Rep. John Conyers is urging President Barack Obama to get tough with those senators he says are standing in the way of passing legislation designed to overhaul the nation's health care system.

The Detroit Democrat said Monday "the president could take a few pages from Lyndon Johnson's book ... and start knocking heads together."

Conyers spoke to reporters in Detroit before heading into a fundraiser featuring Vice President Joe Biden.

The House passed the far-reaching health care legislation late Saturday night. The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin its debate.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina already predicted "the House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate."