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The final vote the health care bill 3962 is shown as members of the house attend the vote on last night. (Photo from AP TV)
A House Republican joined 219 Democrats to vote for the landmark health care reform bill last night in the House of Representatives, enabling the bill to pass 220 votes to 215. Rep. John Dingell (D-Michigan), who has"> introduced national health insurance in every Congress since taking office 1955, said, "It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it."
Dingell also pointed out the $1.2 trillion legislation "provides coverage for 96% of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it." On the other side, his colleague from Michigan, Republican Rep. Candice Miller said, "We are going to have a complete government takeover of our health care system faster than you can say, 'this is making me sick."' Here are some highlights of the bill (PDF), via the AP:
The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees. Both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government's mandates.Another part of the bill included an amendment that bans the use of federal funds to finance abortions; the NY Times has details how it was at the center of much wrangling.Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions would be banned, and insurers would no longer be able to charge higher premiums on the basis of gender or medical history. The industry would also lose its exemption from federal antitrust restrictions on price fixing and market allocation.
At its core, the measure would create a federally regulated marketplace where consumers could shop for coverage. In the bill's most controversial provision, the government would sell insurance, although the Congressional Budget Office forecasts that premiums for it would be more expensive than for policies sold by private companies.
The vote occurred before midnight last night, after day that saw President Obama visiting the Capitol to make his case for health care reform to lawmakers. According to the Washington Post, "After months of acrimonious partisanship, Democrats closed ranks on a 220-215 vote that included 39 defections, mostly from the party's conservative ranks. But the bill attracted a surprise Republican convert: Rep. Anh 'Joseph' Cao of Louisiana, who represents the Democratic-leaning district of New Orleans and had been the target of a last-minute White House lobbying campaign. GOP House leaders had predicted their members would unanimously oppose the bill."
Here's a map of the vote and you can see which House Democrats voted against the here: In NY, there were three Democrat votes against—Michael McMahon, who reps Staten Island, voted against the bill, as did Eric Massa (29th district upstate) and Scott Murphy (20th district, around Albany).
Now the Senate must vote on the bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would take it up as soon as possible. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tennessee) had some criticism of the bill, but eventually voted for it, noting, "This bill will get better in the Senate. If we kill it here, it won’t have a chance to get better."
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Thank God.
This is our first step toward membership in the developed world.
You took the very words out of my mouth. If I may:
"Thank God. This is our first step toward membership in the developed world.
Nice to know that demagoguery is losing its effect little by little. Yes, I'm looking at you, Rep. Candice Miller.
Close vote but I'll take it. The rudeness (and that's putting it mildly) of the Republicans during this debate was stunning. The constant interruptions were nothing but the tantrums of spoiled children not getting their way. I had a cousin who used to knock board games on the floor when he was losing -- the GOP has become that person.
Great how it is a big step towards criminalizing being a woman & making legal medical procedures like abortion unobtainable. For too long them dames have crept closer to medical equality. Time we put the foot down!
UGH.
That amendment is hands down the main negative here. As a person who thinks abortion should not only be legal but mandatory (I'll draw up a list), I do understand that it's entirely possible this would never have passed without that amendment.
Comrades! This is a great step for the Proletariat! This will show Bourgeoisie Swine!!
(ahem)
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Bet the GOP goes after Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao from Louisiana all day today.
I really hope this make a substantial difference.
Now to the Senate. With GOP members like Sen. Joe Lieberman, it will be an uphill battle.
Not a big surprise McMahon voted against it. He's in a traditional republican district that voted for McCain, and he only won because Vito Fosella had that DWI/love baby scandal.
That many of the posters here seem more concerned with the Republican party's opposition to the bill while conveniently ignoring how many Democrats voted against it tells you almost everything you need to know about the state of American politics today. They get just enough votes to pass the bill leaving the Congressmen in the more conservative districts to cover themselves heading into an election year.
And people are more excited that a bill was passed but have no concern about the quality of the legislation. It does almost nothing to control the cost of health care or the rate of cost increases. But as long as you keep screaming "public option" before you have even seen the final version of the bill you can delude yourself into thinking you're going to get the same sort of system that operates in the rest of the industrialized world.
Wow, that's great, can you make any more assumptions? C'mon, just apparently assume that the people who are glad of the passage are completely ignorant of the bill.
As for your "no concern about the quality of the legislation": as the GOP did have plenty of input into the bill, what more do you want? They've had over a year to come up with alternatives and they didn't. Other than maintain the sad state of affairs, the GOP has no interest in reform.
No bill will be perfect and the GOP continues to be the party of "NO!" since January. BTW, that's not an assumption on my part, that's a simple fact based on the GOP's non participation and the GOP ignoring that their input is actually included on this bill and others. Like the Stimulus package before this, the GOP got concessions but would not stand up and vote for the bill. Needless to say, they'll continue to go home and say "Look what I got for you!".
Should I Assume you think it's better to do continue to do nothing or do you actually have any input as to the "quality of the legislation"?
you might want to take another look at your first sentence. the fact that one republican voted for the bill had absolutely nothing to do with "enabling it to pass."
since this whole debate is wildly partisan, a more logical first sentence there might have read something like "despite 39 defections, the democrats in the house were still able to pass the health care reform bill by a vote of 220-215." the whole issue with these bills passing in the house and senate has to do with whether too many democrats will withhold support, not whether or not one republican might vote for it.
hey olds, there's no advantage to Medicare Advantage.
there's no Choice in Medicare Advantage because it's managed by Private insurance. They want their slice of the giant Medicare pie now that they have Medicaid in their pockets.
here's some terms you'll need to know and your doctor, too.
Pre-authorization, utilization review, along with going to their approved MD's. that sounds like no choice to me. don't you want to go to YOUR doctor?
I think the 215 bastards who tried to take YOUR healthcare away should have theirs taken away. You might want to print that NY Times map until next election day, so you can remind yourself & your friends of their own Representatives' treachery.
In fairness, none of them want it taken away, just unchanged.