Historic vote on reform
Republicans unanimous in opposition as health care legislation passes in House
BY DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON -- Triumph in their grasp, President Barack Obama and House Democrats demonstrated command of the votes needed to pass landmark health care legislation Sunday night, a climactic chapter in a century-long quest for near universal coverage.
The House argued its way through a thicket of Republican objections toward a late-evening vote on the bill to extend coverage to 32 million Americans who lack it, ban insurers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and cut deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade.
"Today is the day that is going to rank with the day we passed the civil rights bill in 1964," said Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, a member of Congress since 1955. "Today we're doing something that ranks with what we did with Social Security or Medicare. This is a day of which we can all be proud if we vote for that legislation."
Republicans said it was nothing of the sort, warning of a government takeover of the health care system, financed by a trillion dollars in higher taxes and Medicare cuts combined.
"There is dirty deal after dirty deal after dirty deal in the bill this House will vote on," said Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan. "It is a disgrace."
The measure cleared a critical early test vote, 224-206, a few hours after Obama and Democratic leaders struck a compromise with anti-abortion lawmakers whose votes had left the outcome in doubt. The president issued an executive order pledging that no federal funds would be used for elective abortion.
Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and a handful of fellow abortion opponents said they were satisfied and announced their support for the bill. A spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed skepticism that the presidential order would satisfy the church's objections.
A shouting band of protesters outside the Capitol dramatized their opposition, and one man stood up in the House visitor's gallery yelling, "Kill the bill" before he was ushered out -- evidence of the passions the tumultuous yearlong debate over health care has stirred.
Passage of a central health care bill already cleared by the Senate would send it to Obama for his signature. That still would leave one more step, a companion package of changes would go to the Senate.
For the president, the events capped an 18-day stretch in which he traveled to four states and lobbied more than 60 wavering lawmakers in person or by phone to secure passage of his signature domestic issue. According to some who met with him, he warned that the bill's demise could cripple his still-young presidency.
Far beyond the political ramifications -- a concern the president repeatedly insisted he paid no mind -- were the sweeping changes the bill held in store for millions of individuals, the insurance companies that would come under tougher control and the health care providers, many of whom would face higher taxes.
For the first time, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused. Much of the money in the bill would be devoted to subsidies to help families at incomes of up to $88,000 a year pay their premiums.
The measure would also usher in a significant expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor. Coverage would be required for incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, $29,327 a year for a family of four. Childless adults would be covered for the first time, starting in 2014.
The insurance industry, which spent millions on advertising trying to block the bill, would come under new federal regulation. They would be forbidden from placing lifetime dollar limits on policies, from denying coverage to children because of pre-existing conditions and from canceling policies when a policyholder becomes ill.
Parents would be able to keep children up to age 26 on their family insurance plans, three years longer than is now the case.
A new high-risk pool would offer coverage to uninsured people with medical problems until 2014, when the coverage expansion would go into high gear.
Passage of a central health care bill already cleared by the Senate would send it to Obama for his signature as early as Monday. That still would leave one more step, a companion package of changes still needing Senate approval.
After more than a year of political combat -- certain to persist into the fall election campaign for control of Congress -- Democrats piled superlative upon superlative across several hours of House debate.
Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York read a message President Franklin Roosevelt sent Congress in 1939 urging lawmakers to address the needs of those without health care, and said Democrat Harry Truman and Republican Richard Nixon had also sought to broaden insurance coverage.
Republicans attacked the bill without let-up, warning it would harm the economy while mandating a government takeover of the health care system.
"The American people know you can't reduce health care costs by spending $1 trillion or raising taxes by more than one-half trillion dollars. The American people know that you cannot cut Medicare by over one-half trillion dollars without hurting seniors," said Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich.
"And, the American people know that you can't create an entirely new government entitlement program without exploding spending and the deficit."
Obama has said often that presidents of both parties have tried without success to achieve national health insurance, beginning with Theodore Roosevelt early in the 20th century.
The 44th president's quest to succeed where others have failed seemed at a dead end two months ago, when Republicans won a special election for a Massachusetts Senate seat, and with it, the votes to prevent a final vote.
But the White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. soon came up with a rescue plan that required the House to approve the Senate-passed measure despite opposition to many of its provisions, then have both houses pass a fix-it measure incorporating numerous changes.
To pay for the changes, the legislation includes more than $400 billion in higher taxes over a decade, roughly half of it from a new Medicare payroll tax on individuals with incomes over $200,000 and couples over $250,000. A new excise tax on high-cost insurance policies was significantly scaled back in deference to complaints from organized labor.
In addition, the bills cut more than $500 billion from planned payments to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and other providers that treat Medicare patients. An estimated $200 billion would reduce planned subsidies to insurance companies that offer a private alternative to traditional Medicare.
The insurance industry warned that seniors would face sharply higher premiums as a result, and the Congressional Budget Office said many would return to traditional Medicare as a result.
The subsidies are higher than those for seniors on traditional Medicare, a difference that critics complain is wasteful, but insurance industry officials argue goes into expanded benefits.
Associated Press writers Jim Kuhnhenn and Erica Werner contributed to this report.
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28 COMMENTS
C-Fairer said...
Where will Canadians go for good healthcare if we nationalize ours?____Gracias for the free healthcare Sen0r!______Abortion is not healthcare.___________Third world countries have univeral health care, why doesn't the United States.____________ Obamacare: Our Military did not fight and die for Health Care or Government control. They fought for freedom!
March 22, 2010 at 1:16 AM Report abuse
DTOM said...
As the President of SEIU, most frequent visitor of the White House, ANDY STERN says : ---- "We took names. We watched how they voted. We know where they live." ---- “We’re trying to use the power of persuasion. And if that doesn’t work we’re going to use the persuasion of power.” ----
March 22, 2010 at 5:22 AM Report abuse
Babbs said...
The Democrats will be purged from power at the next election. They want to dictate lives from cradle to grave? Send them down to Venezuela or China or Cuba. You stupid people who think the government should tell you how to live your lives. Look at California, it is broke. This is just the beginning for them.
March 22, 2010 at 6:20 AM Report abuse
HelpMaine said...
Regardless of what this does for healthcare, this vote will bankrupt this country. Combine the cost of this (be sure to add in the $208B "Doc fix" legislation that will pass soon) with the unfunded Social Security and Medicare liabilities and our country is beyond broke. There will be no way to get out of this other than by cutting benefits in one or all of the these entitlement programs. It is a sad day for our future.
March 22, 2010 at 7:07 AM Report abuse
JonEBigTime said...
A painful day for the wallets of working Americans...
March 22, 2010 at 7:19 AM Report abuse
Robinwhod said...
How much less will my health insurance cost? What additional benefits can I expect to receive? More for less is good but can someone please provide the details? I thought so...
March 22, 2010 at 7:25 AM Report abuse
Scrutinizer said...
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. -- Thomas Jefferson
March 22, 2010 at 7:53 AM Report abuse
Aldin said...
And while all the conservatives grind their teeth, whine and wimper and vow to repeal this legislation, I dare them to also repeal all the other government handouts: Medicare, Social Security, FEMA (why should the gov. bail you out if you built your house in an earthquake or flood or hurricane prone area?), and so on.
March 22, 2010 at 7:58 AM Report abuse
Credi said...
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! There was just a withdrawal from my bank account by Barack Obama Ahhhhhh!
March 22, 2010 at 8:32 AM Report abuse
roughrider said...
Democratic lies will continue to drive this country to a third world position. This Muslim president, with no proof of American citizenship, no proof of even going to college has socialized this place in only a year and a few months. God know where we will be in two and a half more years unless we change every democrat in congress in November
March 22, 2010 at 8:35 AM Report abuse
KoolDude said...
roughrider, unfortunately, seems to be typical of the right . . .
March 22, 2010 at 9:04 AM Report abuse
slntmjrty said...
Welcome to the United Socialist States of America
March 22, 2010 at 9:15 AM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
The RepubliCONS are real uneasy the morning after this historic vote. They can take NO credit for this landmark bill. Once Americans embrace it, and they will, they'll realize it is a good thing. Remember it was Democrats who brought us Social Security and Medicare. Try taking those sacred cows away from Americans! This morning the RepubliCONS like McCain and McConnell said they will continue to work to over-turn this bill from becoming law. Not being able to take any credit they have no other avenue. Their crooked backs are up against the wall. In another 5 years the RepubliCON party will almost be a thing of the past. Only a few left over Mitch McConnell Kool-Aid drinkers will continue to endorse that party. Your time is almost over RepubliCONS!
March 22, 2010 at 9:57 AM Report abuse
Abetterplace said...
In the mold of Massachusetts' Health Care Plan, now all Americans can be just like them and have a bankrupt government! The process was breathtakingly criminal. One example: Quote from Fla. Congressman AC Hastings during Healthcare Reform Debate "Rules, We make them up as we go along..." Sounds like he has the same plan of the former Community Organizer! "Socialism is a philosophy of Failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, it's inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill
March 22, 2010 at 10:26 AM Report abuse
heyrube said...
the REAL reason republicons are afraid the GOP is worried not that Obama's health care initiatives might fail, but that they might succeed. Utah Republican Senator Orrin Hatch "And if they get there, of course, you're going to have a very rough time having a two-party system in this country, because almost everybody's going to say, "All we ever were, all we ever are, all we ever hope to be depends on the Democratic Party."
March 22, 2010 at 10:57 AM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
heyrube said... the REAL reason republicons are afraid the GOP is worried not that Obama's health care initiatives might fail, but that they might succeed.********* You've got that right! They know ultimately this bill will bring needed reform and coverage to millions of Americans. The RepubliCON idiots would have been better off working with the rest of Congress to come up with the very best bill possible and compromised. They could have claimed credit. No, instead they continued to drink Sen. McConnell's Kool-Aid and attempted to use every trick in the book to stall this puppy to a screaching halt before Obama got any credit for his major campaign promise. His other promise of getting out of Iraq is happening too. He's also killing off more bad guys with drone missiles than Bush did in eight years. This president is getting something done even with the stall tactics of the RepubliCONS. You people like ProConservative need to pack up your crap. Your game is finally up!
March 22, 2010 at 11:46 AM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
Babbs said... The Democrats will be purged from power at the next election. Look at California, it is broke. This is just the beginning for them.***** Fool, it's a RepubliCON governor and administration running California!
March 22, 2010 at 11:49 AM Report abuse
HelpMaine said...
For those of you who think that this reform, social security, and medicare will not lead to benefit cuts to any or all of these programs in the future then you are ignoring the facts. Before this bill was passed, medicare and social security were already looking big deficits in the not to distant future. This health care bill will add to the problem. You won't have to worry about "daring" the republicans to cut these programs. Money does not grow on trees and it will run out. It might take ten years for this to happen but be assured that SS and medicare eligibility ages will be increased. It is simple math, the demographics of only 3 people working for each person on SS just doesn't work. Don't forget that a big portion of those who will be getting subsidized medical coverage will be going on Medicaid, of which the states pay 50% of the cost. This state cost was not figured in the CBO cost estimates since that is just federal costs. So much for more money for roads and education.
March 22, 2010 at 12:30 PM Report abuse
U29sbw%3D%3D said...
Every Democrat woman ought to have an abortion each year!
March 22, 2010 at 12:37 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
U29, Apparently someone aborted your brain! Well, of course they did ... you're an irrational, ignorant RepubliCON!
March 22, 2010 at 1:33 PM Report abuse
heyrube said...
Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Americans want their government to create jobs through spending on public works, investments in alternative energy or skills training for the jobless. They also want the deficit to come down. And most are ready to hand the bill to the wealthy. A Bloomberg National Poll conducted Dec. 3-7 shows two- thirds of Americans favor taxing the rich to reduce the deficit. Even though almost 9 of 10 respondents also say they believe the middle class will have to make financial sacrifices to achieve that goal, only a little more than one-fourth support an increase in taxes on the middle class. Fewer still back cuts in entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare or a new national consumption tax.
March 22, 2010 at 1:43 PM Report abuse
heyrube said...
and this is why the middle class says- tax the wealthy-- This is culmination of a crisis that started taking form a generation ago. For long stretches of time, the growth in the nation's GDP has gone almost entirely to the top 1% or less of the population. That has resulted in a dramatic shift in wealth away from the middle class, made the economy more vulnerable to disaster and made the toll of such a disaster more catastrophic to all but the wealthiest Americans. America today has plenty of rich and super-rich. But it has far more families who did all the right things, but who still have no real security. Going to college and finding a good job no longer guarantee economic safety. Paying for a child's education and setting aside enough for a decent retirement have become distant dreams only in the US are we so deluded as to let the majority of citizens to be srewed by a minority
March 22, 2010 at 1:49 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
Apparently some here believe it's "fair" to have a class of Americans who do not pay their fair share, and they happen to be called the wealthy. They have every advantage, including health insurance companies paying Republican members of Congress up to $2 million each to kill this bill. It didn't work. Finally, thanks to Democrats, America's middle class will finally see relief. Republican: We're Worthless.
March 22, 2010 at 1:51 PM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
One prominent conservative commentator—former Bush speechwriter David Frum—argues that last night's vote was an enormous political reversal for Republicans. Saying that the Republicans went for "all the marbles" by unanimously opposing the bill and refusing to compromise in any way—fueling activist fury at the same time.*******All the marbles and they loss!
March 22, 2010 at 3:46 PM Report abuse
Scrutinizer said...
All this, without the means to pay for it. I guess we can tax the hell of the job creators hoping they'll continue to hire and hope that they don't pass the additional cost of doing business to the consumer. The key word here is HOPE. Does hope pay your bills?
March 22, 2010 at 4:01 PM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
Scrutinizer said... All this, without the means to pay for it. Does hope pay your bills?******** We're already paying up the nose for NOT having health reform. Where should I start? Higher premiums, record hospital cost, loss of jobs because employers can't keep up with sky-rocketing employee insurance coverage cost, people using emergency rooms for non-emergency complaints at $500 a pop, people getting chronically ill from not having regular check-ups, record number of hospital bills never getting paid, etc. So when you ask how is this going to get paid? You're already paying for it, and in a few years everyone else will, which will lessen the burden on the current system payers.
March 22, 2010 at 4:46 PM Report abuse
heyrube said...
well scrutin- did you read anything? there have been taxcuts for the wealthy since reagan and the middle class has continued to lose ground- tell me how the system is supposed to work- and jobs creators? they have had the tax breaks- so why arent they creating?
March 22, 2010 at 5:22 PM Report abuse
TheSaint said...
I see the minority tea baggers like heyyou, ProConserv, and a number of other Sen. Mitch McConnell Kool-Aid drinkers are all eerily quiet. You can almost hear a pin drop in this forum. Wait a minute! What is that I hear in the distance? Sounds like someone sucking down another glass of RepubliCON poisoned Kool-Aid!
March 22, 2010 at 8:04 PM Report abuse