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A big win for House Democrats. Now the Senate awaits.
By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
11/08/09 12:05 AM EST
By a vote of 220-215, the House moved to make sweeping and historic changes to the nation's health care system. Democratic leaders overcame near-universal opposition from Republicans and 39 moderates and vulnerable freshmen within their own party to eek out a victory that may be short-lived, as the Senate is likely to pass a far different health care bill in the coming weeks.
The House bill would cost $1.2 trillion and would create a government-run public health insurance option. It includes new subsidies to help people pay for insurance coverage. It is funded through tax increases, cuts to Medicare and fines for those who do not obtain insurance or provide it for employees. The bill would extend health care coverage to an additional 36 million people.
One Republican, politically vulnerable Rep. Joseph Cao, of Louisiana, voted for the bill.
Democrats were able to pull off a victory in part by allowing pro-life Democrats to offer an amendment that would prevent any federal funding from being used to pay for abortions under the government-run health care exchanges that would be established.
The provision passed 240 to 194 with help of 64 Democrats. While many liberals opposed the amendment, they agreed to vote for final passage, in part because some harbor hopes it will be removed later, in conference.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, tried to use this sentiment as a wedge to create more opposition from moderate Democrats.
"It's pretty clear this could be a shell game underway," Boehner said. "We have no guarantee that when it comes back from conference that language, stopping taxpayer funding for abortion, will be in the bill."
"Have you ever had a guarantee like that from anybody since you've been here?" Rangel responded.
The House rejected two Republican attempts to alter the bill. By a party line vote of 176-258, a provision failed that would have substituted a GOP health care proposal for the Democratic plan.
The House also said no to Republican language that would have instituted medical malpractice reform and used the savings to help stave off billions in pending Medicare cuts.
"It gives members a chance to prioritize the health of our nation's seniors instead of lining the pockets of trial lawyers," Republican Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., said.
Democrats and proponents of the bill who packed the viewing galleries broke out into applause when the clerk recorded 218 votes in favor of the bill, which was just enough needed for passage.
Of the 39 Democrats who voted against the measure, the vast majority were moderates and vulnerable freshmen from swing districts.
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