Senate Committee Passes Health Overhaul

(AP)  The Senate health committee cast a milestone vote Wednesday to approve legislation expanding insurance coverage to nearly all Americans, becoming the first congressional panel to act on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

The 13-10 party line vote advanced a $600 billion measure that would require individuals to get health insurance and employers to contribute to the cost. The government would provide financial assistance with premiums for individuals and families making up to four times the federal poverty level, or about $88,000 for a family of four. The health committee legislation is but one piece of broader Senate legislation that's still under development.

"This time we've produced legislation that by and large I think the American people want," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who stood in for committee chairman Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Kennedy, who's made health care legislation a lifelong priority, is being treated for brain cancer.

But ranking Republican Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming argued that the bill would break Obama's promises by adding to the deficit.

Obama himself was driving the action, scheduling a Rose Garden statement to reiterate that a bill will get done and focus on the role of nurses in any overhaul. It marked the third straight day the president has kept up a full-court press on health care. The drive included a television ad blitz by Obama's political operation, targeting moderate lawmakers of both parties.

On Tuesday, House Democratic leaders pledged to meet the president's goal of health care legislation before their August break, offering a $1.5 trillion plan that for the first time would make health care a right and a responsibility for all Americans. Left to pick up most of the tab were medical providers, employers and the wealthy.

"We cannot allow this issue to be delayed. We cannot put it off again," Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce committee, said Tuesday. "We, quite frankly, cannot go home for a recess unless the House and the Senate both pass bills to reform and restructure our health care system."

In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid said he wanted floor debate to begin a week from Monday. With the Senate Finance Committee still struggling to reach consensus, that timetable could slip. Even so, it underscored a renewed sense of urgency.

"There's going to be a major debate over the next three weeks," Obama said Tuesday in Warren, Mich., deviating from his prepared text on new spending for community colleges. "And don't be fooled by folks trying to scare you saying we can't change the health care system. We have no choice but to change the health care system because right now it's broken for too many Americans."

[jsd330]

More taxes on business's = more going out of business or going offshore = lost jobs+ lost taxes. We'll all be getting government assitance to pay for our mandated health care insurance. The Dems won't be happy until unemployment is 25 to 50%. The employed 50% will be government employees.

[aldon61]

This is a good first step, now reconcile this bill with the house's and do something good for our un-insured.

[endurorob]

Financial aid for families making up to $88k a year. Are you kidding? Well I geuss that is a way to bribe people to support this socilaist agenda.

[endurorob]

He's really pushing hard toward the new Socialist state.