He split from the majority of Democrats on the first vote on healthcare reform in the US House. Now comes word that Congressman Chet Edwards will do it again.

The District 17 representative's Washington office has confirmed that Edwards will vote against the healthcare bill currently being considered by the House, and that his vote is non-negotiable.

A conference call by Edwards was scheduled for Monday morning, but was cancelled because details on the final bills had not yet been released to his office. That call will likely now take place later in the week.

According to CNN Saturday, 21 Democrats had said they will vote against the bill, though some would be willing to change their mind with significant changes. The overwhelming Republican opposition needs 38 Democrats to vote no for the bill to fail in the House.

Edwards was one of 39 Democrats to vote against HR 3962, the original healthcare reform bill in the House. One Republican voted in favor, along with 219 Democrats. The bill passed 220-215.

The congressman agreed to district-wide healthcare town halls after an outcry from residents. Following three in-person meetings and a telephone town hall where sentiment was overwhelmingly against the bill, Edwards returned to Washington and voted no, saying he had read the entire bill and numerous analyses and come to the conclusion that there was too much spending.

"I am especially disappointed that the bill does not have a fiscal trigger in it to cut spending if actual costs of new programs turn out to be higher than projected," Edwards said in a statement at the time. "While the Congressional Budget Office predicts this bill is paid for over 10 years, there is no mechanism in the bill to force spending cuts if those complicated projections turn out to be wrong."

A vote in the House is possible in the coming days. President Barack Obama delayed a scheduled trip to Asia to try and help get reform passed.

All other Brazos Valley representatives -- Republicans Joe Barton, Kevin Brady, John Carter and Michael McCaul -- voted against HR 3962.