Photo Credit: Associated Press
WASHINGTON – In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.
The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later.
"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," said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955.
In the run-up to a final vote, conservatives from the two political parties joined forces to impose tough new restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies to be sold to many individuals and small groups. They prevailed on a roll call of 240-194.
Ironically, that only solidified support for the legislation, clearing the way for conservative Democrats to vote for it.
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.
Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis 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. In a further slap, the industry would lose its exemption from federal antitrust restrictions on price gouging, bid rigging and market allocation.
A cheer went up from the Democratic side of the House when the bill gained 218 votes, a majority. Moments later, Democrats counted down the final seconds of the voting period in unison, and and let loose an even louder roar when Pelosi grabbed the gavel and declared, "the bill is passed.'
From the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada issued a statement saying, "We realize the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energized that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system."
The bill drew the votes of 219 Democrats and Rep. Joseph Cao, a first-term Republican who holds an overwhelmingly Democratic seat in New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats.
Nearly unanimous in their opposition, minority Republicans cataloged their objections across hours of debate on the 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion legislation.
United in opposition, minority Republicans cataloged their objections across hours of debate on the 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion legislation.
"We are going to have a complete government takeover of our health care system faster than you can say, `this is making me sick,'" jabbed Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., adding that Democrats were intent on passing "a jobs-killing, tax-hiking, deficit-exploding" bill.
There are 34 comments
The politicians are too corrupt to pass a real health care bill and the public is too stupid to give a darnn..
The scardycats in Washington should just get rid Pre-existing conditions and limit premiums - thats it. They are too corrupt to get anything else passed. Its a good thing the Christian Scientists don't have a big lobby, otherwise the health bill would only pay for Bibles and maybe leeches..
#25 Plasma
The numbers you cite regarding support for health care legislation are irrelevant to a discussion of numbers regarding support for health care being a right rather than a privilege.
But I'm not surprised that your attempt to juggle apples with oranges was an epic FAIL.
#24
Not only is disgusted a concern troll of the highest order, but a terribly misinformed one at that.
In other words: here we go again.
Health Care can get passed in the Senate through the reconciliation process. There you only need 50 Democrats to vote "Aye" and there are 57 Democrats who will vote "Aye" on a bill with a public option.
Lieberman, Snowe, Bauchus, the bull-dike looking senator named "Lindsey", and the rest of them are just not relevant anymore. Stop perpetuation myths and tell people to call their senators and demand a reconciliation vote now.
Every day Republicans waste with their nonsense in the Senate gets more and more Americans killed. Republicans have already killed tens of thousands of Americans just this year alone with their delay tactics and theatrics. Enough is enough. Its time for saving American lives, not another 8 months of the GOP circus.
I don't really CARE which party comes up with a plan that is best for all Americans. I don't identify with EITHER of the two political parties. I tend to vote (D) as of late, because they say the things that I want to hear, but at the end of the day the truth is that there are lobbyists working BOTH sides of the aisle, and THAT'S what determines policy. Lobbyist money. NOT our votes, NOT our letters. It's THE MONEY.
Bob Jackson @ 17....
I'm pretty sure that the right of "LIFE, Liberty, and the PURSUIT of Happiness does NOT include a face lift.
@27 disgusted
I am well aware that Pelosi is not in the Senate. Nor am I praising either this bill or the one the Senate committee approved. Neither one goes far enough toward providing insurance to everyone and containing the skyrocketing cost of healthcare. The blame I put on repubs is for their insistence that everything is just fine with healthcare now, and that we should leave this marvelous system alone. Compare it to any other healthcare system in the leading industrialized nations, and you will see it falls short in every objective measure. As a businessman, would you enjoy paying far more for an inferior service than another business who pays less and gets more? That's exactly the situation we have here in America, where we pay the highest per capita costs for healthcare, but get poorer quality healthcare than other nations get who pay less per capita.
You seem to indicate that dem laws will ruin the economy. That ship sailed already under Bush. So, that being the case, I'd be very interested in your ideas for fixing the economy. How would you create jobs? How would you cut the deficit? How would you start paying down the national debt? Seriously, if you want to discuss any of those things, I'm ready to discuss them also. If instead you simply want to continue down the same path of demonizing Pelosi and Obama, (I'm shocked you left Harry Reid, Al Gore, Keith Olbermann and Ted Kennedy's ghost out of the discussion), then I'll understand, and to be honest, won't be terribly surprised.
Uff:
Does that stuff you're drinking compel you to change the subject like that? In case you hadn't noticed, Nancy is not in the Senate.
In case you hadn't noticed, I didn't praise the Republicans. I never said I like their bill. What I said is that Pelosi's bill sucks. It's bad for my business and I'm sure I'm not alone. If you want to see the unemployment rate and the economy stay where it is or get worse, call Nancy and tell her you love everything she's doing...which, in case you hadn't noticed, is not European-style health care.
Let me expound: I employ people at considerably better than minimum wage. They support families with the income my store generates, and I'm telling you Pelosi has put together a bill that, if enacted, guarantees people would get fired.
You got anything to say that isn't changing the subject? Your president claims he's ushering in a "New Era of Responsibility" and then he spends all his time blaming Republicans. Apparently you are of the same mindset.
@24 disgusted
In case you hadn't noticed, in the Senate, the committee crafting their version of the healthcare bill was evenly split among 3 democrats and 3 repubs, which is more repub representation than repubs merited based on the split between dems and repubs in the senate. Even the dems were actually Blue Dogs, and real liberal dems were shut out of the process.
By the way, repubs have now come up with their own healthcare bill. I'm sure you'll like the contents. It's a relatively terse 200 page tome, which basically makes legal all the worst insurance abuses that are currently going on. Recission is made legal, denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions is made legal, and there are no cost controls in the bill. In other words, it is simply a giveaway to the insurance companies. The repubs don't care, because they could care less about people like you and me unless it is election time. They will take millions in campaign donations from big business and the ultrarich, try to convince you that they are just like you and really care about the average guy like Joe the Plumber, and then once the election is over, they go back to passing bills that take your money and transfer it to their rich donors, through corporate welfare, tax loopholes, and anti-consumer laws. It's sad that so many people still fall for their song and dance routine. Apparently you are one of them.
@14.Captain John Schenck
"And just so the user knows: a plurality, bordering on a majority, of Americans disagrees with you."
The NUMBERS say you are wrong...
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Most (52%) remain opposed.
Only 25% Strongly Support the plan while 42% are Strongly Opposed.
From Resmussen website....Monday, November 09, 2009
What the hell are you talking about? Democrats own everything in DC, and you're blaming Republicans? You mean the Republicans who had no input because Pelosi literally locked them out of negotiations on this bill? Just like Capn' Trade, Pelosi threw every stupid lobbyist bone should could think of into this pig of a bill, and she didn't give a damn about the little guy -- or about what the majority of the population wants. But why would she? She's fabulously wealthy. No one she knows will take it in the shorts if the economy never recovers.
@22 disgusted
If there were a single-payer system in this country, as in the EU nations, you wouldn't be in that situation. The government provides healthcare with taxpayer funds, and businesses are therefore free of that cost. Unfortunately, repubs care only about ensuring the profits of the insurance companies, and despite all their platitudes about how they "care" about the small business owner, the cold, hard fact is that they couldn't care less about you. Unless you can guarantee them a steady flow of hefty campaign contributions, they won't even notice you as you struggle to survive and flourish. Repubs and Blue Dog dems are supporters of BIG business, not business in general.
It's astounding that Pelosi (or anyone else) could be so dense. She crammed through an unpopular bill (every major poll shows most Americans do not want a trillion dollar health care mess, administered by the same government who can't run the post office, medicare, social security, etc) and, predictably, goes around crowing about what a victory this is for Americans. Well, I can name a few who won't feel so victorious.
I own a small business. (No, that doesn't make me an evil rich person. My personal income won't top $50K this year.) Pelosi's stroke of health-care genius will force me to buy my employees insurance. (And why is that my responsibility anyway?) I can't pay for it. What to do? I'll have to fire a couple employees. I don't want to, but there's no other solution. Equipment costs aren't going down. Lease payments aren't going down. My kids aren't going to eat less just to make Pelosi happy. The cost of electricity isn't going down...which is another sticky point: If Dems pass their idiotic Capn' Trade bill, energy costs will go up. (Everyone admits this, including the president. You know -- the guy who owns a $4M mansion in Chicago? The one who says we all have to "sacrifice" while he's taking $120,000 "date nights" with his wife.) How will I pay for higher energy costs? Another employee gets the boot. Good thing the economy's roaring along at such a healthy pace. Oh, wait...
Thank goodness Pelosi cares so much about the little people, because spending a trillion dollars we don't have in a crappy economy is going to produce millions more of them.
#19 Mara
You got it.
I happen to agree with you, that health care should be a right, not a privilege. And a large percentage of Americans (nearing a majority) agree with us, including more than 80% of Democrats and a plurality of Independents.
The percentage of those who do not agree consists largely of righwingnut Republicans, like Plasma, whose increasingly-irrelevant opinions matter less and less with each passing day.
#16, #17, & #18
Utilizing the same sliding scale, that's a 6, a 7, and an 9 respectively. I would've handed you a perfect 10 for post #18... if only you would've taken the time to make yourself look dumber by expanding your already-irrelevant, misguided list.
Practice makes perfect.
Captain John Schenck,
Thank you for being a voice of reason, and for addressing my comments w/respect.
Health care IS a right....within the context of a humane society that values Life over the greedy Profit of hellth insurance conglomerate. That said, no one is asking health care Workers to give up their compensation. Same w/the police, fire fighters, etc. Here's some paragraphs on the topic of the Constitution and health care:
"To those who believe the Constitution does not include health care reform, I suggest that they re-read the preamble to the Constitution, which says that in order to form a more perfect union we must, “…insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,” and “promote the general welfare…”
"Access to affordable health care will help insure domestic tranquility, it will provide a common defense against illness and the exorbitant cost of health care, and it will indeed promote the general welfare. Nothing is more crucial to the general welfare of American citizens than their health and that requires access to affordable health care."
http://progressivenation.us/2009/08/07/does-the-constitu ion-include-health-care-for-all/
Not only is it a Right, but it's also good, common sense to ensure that as much of the populace as possible has access to good, Affordable health-care! And, if they cannot afford that care, we must all help provide it for them. In the end, it helps Every American Citizen that people are not going without, as concerns health care.
17. Plasma001
6th, not 4th... Typo...
"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."
14. Captain John Schenck
By the way, if health care were a "right" it would be free for everybody (to include illegals). Rights are "endowed to us by our creator" and NOT given to us by the government with the exception of the 4th.
If health care were a right, any person would be allowed to walk into a plastic surgeons office and demand a face lift. Except for the right to an attorney (and only when charged with a crime), NO person has an individual right to the goods or services of another. Now if the Dems wish to change the Constitution with an amendment, well that's a different quest and process.
14.
Captain John Schenck
That's your opinion, but I'm correct none the less.... Have a nice day...
Don't forget that all the concessions made by the democrats are for the sole purpose of preventing a filibuster because the democrats are not willing to endure a filibuster.
Actually I don't believe that. I think many democrats are opposed to this because they are part of the problem and in the pockets of the insurance industry. This is just a convenient excuse.
But the unwillingness of democrats to draw a line in the sand on any issue and make the opposition follow through with a filibuster is a big problem.
#11
On a scale of 1-10, 1 being dumb and 10 being really, really dumb, this post is a fiver.
And just so the user knows: a plurality, bordering on a majority, of Americans disagrees with you.
#10 Mara
I think it's probably pretty safe to say that the bill will only get pushed to the right in the Senate version. And then pushed to the right again in conference. Sure there will be good things in the final version, and its best to hold the big fire until its presented, but Progressives should be giving serious thought to vocalizing their ability to sink it when it comes out of conference if some of the more odious items (like Stupak) aren't removed.
Amen?
@ 10. Mara5525
Mara, I hate to tell you, but health care is the result of the labor of another person (MDs, RNs and MANY others) and there is ONLY one place in the constitution where any ONE person is GIVEN the labor of another. Health care is NOT a right or the founding dads would have put it in there, just like the RIGHT to an attorney. Now if you want to amend the Constitution to make health care a "right", well, that is another discussion and process.
I'm not sure how much to get excited. It's good that something passed in the House, but we will have to see what the Senate does. I just read in article in Slate by Timothy Noah, that basically said: there probably won't be much left, after the Senate gets done w/this bill. Still, something may be better than nothing, since it can be expanded upon, in time(?) Ten years for it to all take effect anyway? Well, if we get something, that's still good, imo. It's an admission from this country that health care is a basic right for everyone.
The real moral majority want quality national health insurance whie the g0p wants to spend more money on killing innocent people around the globe.
An Open Letter to President Obama:
Why your party's health care plan is such a bad idea:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/contribute/sn/persona?User= _4_victory&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=v_4_victory&p ckPostId=Blog%3av_4_victoryPost%3abbb7376a-8be6-4a2d-99f2-3725d3 12cb4&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckEl mentId=personaDest
@ 6.
Dr_Olsitsirhc
++++++++++++.
I must say I was a bit stunned to see you say that you don't believe that "HEALTH CARE" is "Political" in nature. OMG, where oh where have you been?
Surely it is not this big bad Air America who put a post on Health care under a political section that has you in a twist. Maybe it is the big liberal media who shifts all of the issues onto CONGRESS & the President so that they can PASS bills for the collective good of this nation...or then again, maybe it's just that you haven't realized that our nation's health care and access to what is needed, may have shifted drastically over the last couple of decades?
By the way, the terms "Compassionate" and "Fair" have never been equated to Health Care that comes from the right end of the spectrum in politics, so why should this suddenly begin now?
.
"Ironically, that only solidified support for the legislation, clearing the way for conservative Democrats to vote for it."
Two things: 1. Why is "yours and mine "Health" under "Politics?" Health should be compassionate and fair and never political and
2. If you understand politics very little then you know that there is no “irony” involved in “restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies…” that won the conservative vote. It is more of a C.Y.A. for when they meet their constituents and most likely will change in the senate and be reiterated now that it is approved.
Is this the bill with no negotiable pharmaceutical prices?
That is worse than no bill passing.
A "moral victory" for the healthcare insurance industry.
Don't give me this political will crap either. We need someone with political dscipline and morals.
5 years from now medical bankruptcies will account for about 67% or more of all bankrupticies in 80% of those that had a for-profit scam at the onset of their problem. This legislation does n othing to fix that problem. That is our main problem with for-profit wealthcare and was completely ignored by millionaires like Pelosi.
Lame. To that 4% of Americans that this bill does nothing for, sorry about your luck. 4% of 330 million is 12 million Americans that this fake reform will ignore.
To those breast cancer victims who will have NO OPTION but to keep your current crappy for-profit health insurance scam, Nancy tells us pharmaceutical corporations can patent trivial chemical structure changes to cancer drugs to keep them more expensive than what you can afford and what your for-profit insurer will want to pay. Sorry about your luck too.
To that one third of Americans with inadequate health insurance? You have NO OPTION but but to keep that crap. Sorry about your luck.
To those Americans that will be forced to buy for-profit health insurance; rest assured that our government is very competent when it comes to cost of living calculations based on how frequently they provide cost of living increases to Social Security. They should be able to accurately estimate what they think you should be able to afford. Sorry about your luck too.
Just keep in mind, based on the current campaign finance and lobbyist bribe scheme, the reason America was crapped on so badly last night is because we did not bribe Congress to the tune of 1 to 2 million dollars in lobbyist bribes per day. It is that simple.
If you guys want real healthcare reform. Real campaign finance and lobbyist reform MUST come first.
This bill is as much a disgrace as it is a joke on the lower 98% income bracket. Nancy should be ashamed but keep in mind, she is in the top 2% income earners. My guess is she is proud of what she did to you.
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