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Health Care Bill Passes in House
Updated 10:00 a.m. ET
Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.
"This is what change looks like," Obama said a few moments later in televised remarks that stirred memories of his 2008 campaign promise of "change we can believe in."
Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote. Republicans were unanimous in opposition, joined by 34 dissident Democrats.
Mark Knoller: Health Care Debate Shows Ideological Split
What's Next: Political, Legal Battles Ahead
CBS Poll: Health Care Reform Still Confusing
View the full roll-call vote
A second, smaller measure - making changes in the first - cleared the House shortly before midnight and was sent to the Senate, where Democratic leaders said they had the votes necessary to pass it quickly. The vote was 220-211.
Following the vote, President Obama, with Vice President Biden at his side, said it proves government "still works for the people."
Passage, he said, showed that lawmakers "didn't give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear."
"Instead," he said, "we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things."
Obama went through the bill's provisions, stating that "this isn't radical reform, but it is major reform."
The bill "will not fix everything that ails our health care system, but it moves us decisively in the right direction," he said. "This is what change looks like." (Read more)
Obama will travel outside Washington on Thursday as he now turns to seeing a companion bill through the Senate and selling the health care overhaul's benefits on behalf of House lawmakers who cast risky votes. It is most likely that he will sign the bill on Tuesday, but the plans are not yet final, said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss as-yet unannounced strategy.
Announcement of the Vote
College Aid Reform Passes with Health Bill
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Obama's young presidency received a badly needed boost as a deeply divided Congress passed the rare piece of legislation that will touch the lives of nearly every American. The battle for the future of the medical system - a sixth of the economy - galvanized Republicans and conservative activists, particularly the anti-government tea party movement.
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 Americans, insured or not, as well as the insurance industry and health care providers that face either smaller than anticipated payments from Medicare or higher taxes.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the legislation awaiting the president's approval would 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. If realized, the expansion of coverage would include 95 percent of all eligible individuals under age 65.
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.
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, and his aides hoped to use the victory on health care as a springboard to success on bills to tackle stubbornly high unemployment that threatens Democratic prospects in the fall.
Obama watched the vote in the White House's Roosevelt Room with Vice President Joe Biden and dozens of aides, exchanged high fives with Rahm Emanuel, his chief of staff, and then telephoned Speaker Nancy Pelosi with congratulations.
Boehner Tells Democrats: Shame on You
Pelosi Urges House to "Make History"
"We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things," he said later in the White House East Room. "We proved that this government - a government of the people and by the people - still works for the people.
Crowds of protesters outside the Capitol shouted "just vote no" in a futile attempt to stop the inevitable taking place inside a House packed with lawmakers and ringed with spectators in the galleries above.
Sen. John McCain said Monday morning that Democrats have not heard the last of the health care debate, and said he was repulsed by "all this euphoria going on."
Appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," McCain, who was Obama's GOP rival in the 2008 presidential campaign, said that "outside the Beltway, the American people are very angry. They don't like it, and we're going to repeal this."
McCain, who is in a tough Republican primary fight in his home state, said the GOP "will challenge it every place we can," and said there will be reprisals at the polls, in Congress and in the courts.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said on CBS' "The Early Show" that Americans will be "enthusiastic" about the health bill once they understand it.
"Once people understand what's in the bill and the fact that a lot of what they've been hearing has never been contemplated, has never been in the bill, that they'll be very enthusiastic about what congress did last night," Sebelius said.
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.
"This is what change looks like," Obama said a few moments later in televised remarks that stirred memories of his 2008 campaign promise of "change we can believe in."
Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote. Republicans were unanimous in opposition, joined by 34 dissident Democrats.
Mark Knoller: Health Care Debate Shows Ideological Split
What's Next: Political, Legal Battles Ahead
CBS Poll: Health Care Reform Still Confusing
View the full roll-call vote
A second, smaller measure - making changes in the first - cleared the House shortly before midnight and was sent to the Senate, where Democratic leaders said they had the votes necessary to pass it quickly. The vote was 220-211.
Following the vote, President Obama, with Vice President Biden at his side, said it proves government "still works for the people."
Passage, he said, showed that lawmakers "didn't give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear."
"Instead," he said, "we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things."
Obama went through the bill's provisions, stating that "this isn't radical reform, but it is major reform."
The bill "will not fix everything that ails our health care system, but it moves us decisively in the right direction," he said. "This is what change looks like." (Read more)
Obama will travel outside Washington on Thursday as he now turns to seeing a companion bill through the Senate and selling the health care overhaul's benefits on behalf of House lawmakers who cast risky votes. It is most likely that he will sign the bill on Tuesday, but the plans are not yet final, said a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss as-yet unannounced strategy.
Announcement of the Vote
College Aid Reform Passes with Health Bill
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
Obama's young presidency received a badly needed boost as a deeply divided Congress passed the rare piece of legislation that will touch the lives of nearly every American. The battle for the future of the medical system - a sixth of the economy - galvanized Republicans and conservative activists, particularly the anti-government tea party movement.
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 Americans, insured or not, as well as the insurance industry and health care providers that face either smaller than anticipated payments from Medicare or higher taxes.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the legislation awaiting the president's approval would 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. If realized, the expansion of coverage would include 95 percent of all eligible individuals under age 65.
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.
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, and his aides hoped to use the victory on health care as a springboard to success on bills to tackle stubbornly high unemployment that threatens Democratic prospects in the fall.
Obama watched the vote in the White House's Roosevelt Room with Vice President Joe Biden and dozens of aides, exchanged high fives with Rahm Emanuel, his chief of staff, and then telephoned Speaker Nancy Pelosi with congratulations.
Boehner Tells Democrats: Shame on You
Pelosi Urges House to "Make History"
"We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things," he said later in the White House East Room. "We proved that this government - a government of the people and by the people - still works for the people.
Crowds of protesters outside the Capitol shouted "just vote no" in a futile attempt to stop the inevitable taking place inside a House packed with lawmakers and ringed with spectators in the galleries above.
- Quick Poll
Appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," McCain, who was Obama's GOP rival in the 2008 presidential campaign, said that "outside the Beltway, the American people are very angry. They don't like it, and we're going to repeal this."
McCain, who is in a tough Republican primary fight in his home state, said the GOP "will challenge it every place we can," and said there will be reprisals at the polls, in Congress and in the courts.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said on CBS' "The Early Show" that Americans will be "enthusiastic" about the health bill once they understand it.
"Once people understand what's in the bill and the fact that a lot of what they've been hearing has never been contemplated, has never been in the bill, that they'll be very enthusiastic about what congress did last night," Sebelius said.
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This is just a taste of what these articles are all about:
In Defense of a Free People, the time has come to reassert our God-Given, Natural Rights and cast off tyranny?
Let the Facts Reveal: The federal government of the United States of America was instituted to secure the Individual Rights of our citizens and instead now threatens our Life, Liberty and Property through usurpations of the Constitution. Emboldened by our own lack of responsibility and due diligence in these matters, government has exceeded its? mandate and abandoned those Founding Principles which have made our nation exceptional;
Our servant government has undertaken these unconstitutional actions in direct violation of their enumerated duties, to the detriment of the People?s liberty and the sovereignty of our Republic;
Over many years and spanning multiple political administrations, the People who have, in good conscience, attempted to deliberate our grievances and voice our dissent against these offensive actions through both Petition and Assembly, have been maligned and ignored with contempt;
The People of the several States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, justly alarmed at these arbitrary and unconstitutional actions, have met as Citizen-Delegates, and sat in a general Congress, in the city of St. Charles, Illinois;
Whereupon We, as these Citizen- Delegates, have gathered in defense of Divine Justice, Liberty and the principles of limited government, now stand in clear recognition of the Supreme Law of the Land ? the Constitution for the United States of America;
Therefore, We demand that Government immediately re-establish Constitutional Rule of Law, lest the People be forced to do so themselves; and we hereby serve notice that in the Defense of Freedom and Liberty there shall be NO COMPROMISE to which we shall ever yield.
21 November 2009
The thing that is interesting to me about this vote is how strong the people posting on this site feel about a bill that passed by 0.3%.
________
Check and see what Medicare and Medicade passed by. LBJ knew how to work the room. But even of more interest is the reality that both the Clinton and Obama health care package was based on blueprint laid out by Richard Nixon.
This is a good plan. It is not perfect but neither is the VA and boys and girls this beats the HXll out of nothing. Which is what the Republicans offered.
So what happens if you don't want healthcare you get fined who collects that money? I thought this was the United States of America where in the constitution does it say I need healthcare?
_____________
I don't think you find the Constitution says you need a drivers license either. I think you will not find anything in that document that says there should be a VA, MEDICARE, or MEDICAID.
Obama...we understand the health bill. We've seen it in operation in England and Canada. Why do you think Americans are dumb?
_________________
Nope, I don't think he feels you are dumb. However, the English and Canadians do.
If there was just a ring of truth in any of this crap your putting out it might be different:
(1) The current Gross Domestic Expenditure for health care in the U.S. is 16%. The closest country to that percentage is France at 11%. While the British spend 8.4% and Singapore is 3.4%.
(2) Per capita for every 100 citizens our (US) current expenditures on health care are $7,290.00 per person. That compares to the French spending $3,601.00 per person, the British $2,992.00, and Singapore at $1,228.00 per person.
(3) When you review what our companies, or private sector contributions, are contributing toward healthcare we are not the highest payers but we are second. The leader is Singapore at 67.4%, followed by the US 52.8%, France at 20.87%, and the UK at 4.8%.
(4) One of the most telling facts is infant mortality rate per 1,000 births. We have the highest death rate with 6.7%. The UK has 4.8%, the French at 3.8%, and Singapore is 2.1%.
(5) The way the Tea Party carries on about Medicare you would think we were outliving everyone else but ours is the lowest life expectancy at an average of 78.1 years, the French average 81 years, the British live an average of 79.1 years, and of course the folks in Singapore are living 79.9 years.
Currently 15.3 % of our population is without health insurance that is 45.7 million people. If this plan is passed the projected cut in the deficit is $138 Billion. Knowing this information we should all be at a complete loss about the negative shXt and scare tactics used by the opponents of this legislation.
Shame on you.
Go health care Reform!
So when we see someone is supporting Tea Baggers by saying they are not racist, it is EXACTLY the opposite. That is the conservative mind: believe two opposite things and think they are both right.
I recommend you get a job!!! You will have such a feeling of accomplishment. Oh wait, that would require an education which you obviously lack.
_____________
Tell us Sly are you concerned about the part where Tea Baggers are being called racist? Perhaps it is the inference that you folks speak with a forked-tongue?
I consider myself to be literate and I didn't have any difficulty understand the point being made. Truthfully I think noloyalisti statements are pretty accurate but I would have added something like, you guys need to buy some sheets before you go back to the halls of congress.
Are you gonna make Rush the Grand Wizard? I think Rush is pretty bright guy; well, for a drug addict. From my perspective Rush has an additive personality and the flawed logic that accompanies that malady. He is the radio reincarnate of Joseph McCarthy, and in the end will meet the same fate. What does that say about you baggers and your game of follow the leader?
My advice would be to stop smoking that tea! Sly you are frying your brain cells and a crooked mind is a terrible thing to waste.