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  • Health Care Bill goes to the President's Desk

    Cnn.com Article
    STORY HIGHLIGHTS
    $875 billion health care reform bill heads to president's desk to be signed into law

    Bill passed 219-212, with all Republicans and some Democrats voting against

    Reform projected to cut the federal deficit by $118 billion over the next 10 years

    Washington (CNN) -- A sweeping bill overhauling the U.S. medical system goes to President Obama's desk on Monday to be signed into law.

    The House of Representatives passed the measure late Sunday, delivering a historic victory to Obama, who had made it his No. 1 domestic priority.

    The bill passed in a 219-212 vote after more than a year of bitter partisan debate. All 178 Republicans opposed it, along with 34 Democrats.

    The measure, which cleared the Senate in December, constitutes the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since Medicare and Medicaid were enacted more than four decades ago.

    A separate compromise package of changes expanding the reach of the measure also passed the House over unanimous GOP opposition, and is now set to be taken up by the Senate.

    The overall $940 billion plan is projected to extend insurance coverage to roughly 32 million additional Americans. It represents a significant step toward the goal of universal coverage sought by every Democratic president since Harry Truman.

    Most Americans will now be required to have health insurance or pay a fine. Larger employers will be required to provide coverage or risk financial penalties. Total individual out-of-pocket expenses will be capped and insurers will be barred from denying coverage based on gender or pre-existing conditions.

    The compromise package would add to the bill's total cost partly by expanding insurance subsidies for middle- and lower-income families. The measure would scale back the bill's taxes on expensive insurance plans.

    Numerous House members insisted they would not vote for the Senate bill without a clear promise that senators would approve the changes.

    "This is what change looks like," Obama said shortly after the votes. The passage of health care reform is "not a victory for any one party. ... It's a victory for the American people and it's a victory for common sense."

    The president said successful reform proves Americans "are still a people capable of doing big things."

    The rare Sunday votes occurred after a long weekend of intense negotiations among the White House, House leaders and individual Congress members. Obama traveled to Capitol Hill on Saturday to make a last minute plea to the House Democratic caucus. He spent much of the past week trying to personally persuade dozens of members.

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, worked with administration officials to defuse a potential rebellion among socially conservative Democrats concerned that the bill wouldn't do enough to prevent taxpayer-funded abortions.

    She also brokered a last-minute deal among several Democrats worried about disparities in Medicare funding for individual states.

    Republicans failed to stop the Democratic health care initiative despite using virtually every weapon in their legislative arsenal. GOP leaders have repeatedly warned the plan will lead to a government takeover of America's private employer-based health care system.

    They have also argued it will lead to higher premiums and taxes while imposing harsh Medicare cuts and doing little to control spiraling medical costs.

    Pelosi and Boehner make final comments

    Shortly before the House voted on the bill, Pelosi said health care reform was necessary to end insurance industry abuses and bring greater economic stability to most Americans.


    Congress will be "making history, making progress and restoring the American dream" by passing reform, she said.

    It's time to "complete the great unfinished business of our society." Health care "is a right and not a privilege."

    House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, argued that Democratic leaders had betrayed the trust of the public by pushing ahead with a bill that lacks broad public support.

    "We have failed to listen to America and we have failed to reflect the will of our constituents," he said. "And when we fail to reflect that will, we fail ourselves and we fail our country."

    He also slammed what he characterized as a legislative process marked by a lack of transparency and accountability.

    "Look at how this bill was written," he said, his voice steadily rising. "Can you say it was done openly? With transparency and accountability? Without backroom deals? ... Hell no you can't!"

    The $875 billion bill now headed to Obama's desk is projected to cut the federal deficit by $118 billion over the next 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

    If the compromise plan clears the Senate, the bill's total cost will rise by $65 billion. Projected deficits, however, will be reduced by an additional $25 billion.

    Key details of the bill

    The plan, according to CBO projections, will cut budget deficits by more than $1 trillion in its second decade.

    It will subsidize insurance for a family of four making up to about $88,000 annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

    It also creates a series of health insurance exchanges designed to make it easier for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed to pool resources and purchase less expensive coverage.

    Medicaid will be significantly expanded, ensuring coverage to those earning up to 133 percent of the poverty level, or just over $29,000 for a family of four.

    The bill cuts projected Medicare spending by roughly $500 billion, in part through reductions in the Medicare Advantage program. Democratic leaders have promised the reductions will not affect service to Medicare recipients.

    The bill hikes Medicare payroll taxes on families making more than $250,000.

    Starting in 2013, it also imposes a 40 percent tax on insurance companies providing "Cadillac" health plans valued at more than $8,500 for individuals and $23,000 for families.

    Proponents of the tax on high-end plans say it's one of the most effective ways to curb medical inflation. However, many Democrats oppose taxing such policies because it would hurt union members who traded higher salaries for more generous health benefits.

    If the compromise bill becomes law, the threshold for imposing the Cadillac tax will be raised to health plans valued at more than $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families.

    The tax won't kick in until 2018.

    Buy insurance or pay a fine

    Under the plan now headed to Obama, individuals are required to purchase health insurance coverage or face a fine of up to $750 or 2 percent of their income -- whichever is greater. It includes a hardship exemption for poorer Americans.

    Companies with more than 50 employees that don't provide coverage are required to pay a fee of $750 per worker if any of its employees rely on government subsidies to purchase coverage.

    The compromise package would drop the individual fine to $695 or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is greater. The fine on companies failing to provide coverage would jump to $2,000 per employee.

    Federally funded abortion coverage for people purchasing insurance through the exchanges will be banned under the bill now passed by Congress. Exceptions will be made in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the woman.

    Individuals receiving federal assistance who want abortion coverage will have to purchase the coverage using private funds.

    Illegal immigrants will be barred from buying insurance in the health insurance exchanges.

    Parents, however, will be entitled to keep their children on their health care plans until age 26.

    While passage of the Senate bill is a major win for Democrats on a major party priority, Pelosi had to take a number of steps in recent weeks to assuage House members unhappy with the measure.

    A deeply unpopular special exemption for the state of Nebraska from all new Medicaid expenses -- known as the "Cornhusker kickback" -- would be eliminated under the compromise plan. The federal government will instead assist every state by picking up 100 percent of the costs of expanded Medicaid coverage between 2014 and 2016, and 90 percent starting in 2020.

    The speaker also tried to sweeten the deal for some progressive members of her caucus partly by adding additional subsidies and a major student loan overhaul measure to the compromise plan.

    The measure -- a priority for Obama -- would end the practice of having private banks offer student loans and would expand direct lending from the government.

    Closing the "doughnut hole"

    In addition, the compromise plan would close the Medicare prescription drug "doughnut hole" by 2020. Under current law, Medicare stops covering drug costs after a plan and beneficiary have spent more than $2,830 on prescription drugs. It starts paying again after an individual's out-of-pocket expenses exceed $4,550.

    Senior citizens stuck in the doughnut hole this year would receive a $250 rebate.

    Several fiscally conservative Democrats were assuaged by the Congressional Budget Office's estimate of the bill's long-term effect on the federal deficit.

    A key group of anti-abortion Democrats, meanwhile, was reassured by a last-minute promise of an executive order from Obama stating that the provisions in the health care bill comply with the 32-year-old Hyde Amendment, which sharply restricts federal funding for abortion.

    Emotions exploded shortly after the vote, however, as one Republican shouted "baby killer" at Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, a leader of anti-abortion Democrats involved in negotiations over Obama's order.

    The speaker also considered trying to help unhappy House Democrats by allowing them to avoid a direct vote on the Senate bill. Numerous Congress members had advocated passing a rule that would have deemed the Senate bill approved once the separate package of changes had passed.

    GOP leaders objected furiously to the so-called deem and pass move. House leaders backed away from the idea on Saturday.

    Republicans are still fuming over Democrats' decision to use a legislative procedure called reconciliation that will allow the compromise measures to clear the Senate with a simple majority of 51 votes.

    Senate Democrats lost their filibuster-proof 60-seat supermajority in January with the election of GOP Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts.

    Republicans say that reconciliation, which is limited to provisions pertaining to the budget, was not meant to pass a sweeping overhaul measure such as the health care bill. Democrats point out that reconciliation was used to pass several major bills in recent years, including George W. Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

    House Democrats have been continually reassured that the compromise package will be approved by the more conservative Senate.

    Pelosi said Friday that "when our members go to vote, they will have all the assurances they need" that the Senate will approve the compromise plan.

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, attended the Saturday meeting between Obama and House Democrats. He presented a letter indicating that the Senate would use reconciliation to pass the House's changes.

    "We believe that health insurance reform cannot wait and must not be obstructed," the letter said. "We support an up-or-down majority vote and will vote to make these improvements."

    The letter was not signed, though Reid told the House members that a majority of the Senate backs reconciliation.

    Brown, however, decried the vote and said the nation can't afford the measure.

    "Today's vote shows that leaders in Washington continue to ignore the will of the people," he said. "Americans have sent a message to Washington for the past year, including with my election, that they are opposed to this multitrillion-dollar health care bill that will raise taxes, increase premiums, cut Medicare and leave future generations with a mountain of debt."
    "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach...just make sure you thrust upward through his ribcage."

  • #2
    An embarrasment. Lots of transparency there especially on a Sunday night. Once again the Dems have pulled something that benefits their party not the hard working people of the U.S.


    We believe that health insurance reform cannot wait and must not be obstructed," the letter said. "We support an up-or-down majority vote and will vote to make these improvements."

    *I believe you did it to rescue your lame partys name before elections, not whats in the best interests of the people that you have ignored time and time again. It wasnt a vote, it was forced. Transparency my ass!
    Last edited by Dreadnought; 22 Mar 10,, 13:35.
    Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

    Comment


    • #3
      FOXNews.com - House Roll Call: Health Care Overhaul

      Here's how they voted in case your wondering who we need to give thier walking papers to in Nov. I'll vote for whoever promises to repeal this legislation.

      Comment


      • #4
        Well...uh...the Rev. Jeremiah Wright did beseech the Almighty to "God d*** America"...I guess we did not have to wait overlong for the response :(.
        Pharoh was pimp but now he is dead. What are you going to do today?

        Comment


        • #5
          Yep. For a trillion you get:
          -No malpractice reform. Doctors will still order unnecessary tests to cover their asses.
          -No doctor pay reform/ incentive to enter general practice where you have the same loans to pay back as the specialists and surgeons and same malpractice insurance, but are paid far far less.
          -No choice provision. Your agent, whether it be the government or private insurance still tells you what health care provider you can see.
          -No semi self sustaining public option. Most low income people instead will be enrolled in medicare which in a lot of cases will require patients to drive hours to the nearest public university hospital and/or have to wait months for them to fit them in after the other patients.
          F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: The Honda Accord of fighters.

          Comment


          • #6
            Well the fan is in place, let's see if that large brown mass everybody is saying is inbound actually hits it.
            You know JJ, Him could do it....

            Comment


            • #7
              Doesn't the Senate still have to vote? Or is it guaranteed to pass the Senate?
              Washington - For the United States, health care reform would come with a hefty co-pay.
              So where’s the cash to pay for this coming from? Remember, CBO says this bill will actually cut the deficit over 10 years. That means it has to raise a little more money than it will spend.

              The answer is that the money will be provided by new taxes, fees on industries involved in health care, and cuts in projected spending growth for existing government health efforts, primarily Medicare.
              Yes isn't government wonderful!

              Comment


              • #8
                Can we repeel it?

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by wellman View Post
                  Can we repeel it?
                  We can try to but that would mean Dem's going against the party line. So much for transparency and bipartisanship.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by BadKharma View Post
                    Doesn't the Senate still have to vote? Or is it guaranteed to pass the Senate?
                    This is the senate bill. Its as good as a done deal by the end of the week. Its on its way to Obama now. I just want to spit when I hear or say his name anymore!

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by 7thsfsniper View Post
                      This is the senate bill. Its as good as a done deal by the end of the week. Its on its way to Obama now. I just want to spit when I hear or say his name anymore!
                      Replace the P with an H and you come closer to how I feel!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by 7thsfsniper View Post

                        Here's how they voted in case your wondering who we need to give thier walking papers to in Nov. I'll vote for whoever promises to repeal this legislation.
                        As will I.

                        Every Republican was against--along with 30something Dems. Well, at least there are plenty of states that are getting funding for little side-projects. The "purchase" of yes votes for the Obamanation.
                        "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach...just make sure you thrust upward through his ribcage."

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Make Pelosi and Reid the very first to go and definately repeal the Bill.
                          Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Pretty much Sums it up.
                            Attached Files
                            "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach...just make sure you thrust upward through his ribcage."

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              What a disaster. So this is what change looks like.... it was just not specified that the change is not for the better.
                              In Iran people belive pepsi stands for pay each penny save israel. -urmomma158
                              The Russian Navy is still a threat, but only to those unlucky enough to be Russian sailors.-highsea

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