CNN Political Ticker
825 days ago

Obama: Now up to Senate to complete work on health care bill


Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama on Sunday praised the "historic" House vote to pass a bill overhauling the nation's ailing health care system, and said now it is time for the Senate to "take the baton" and complete its work.

The House passed its health care bill late Saturday night by a 220-215 vote, with 39 Democrats in opposition and one Republican supporting it. Senate approval is considered less certain due to opposition by all Republicans and some moderate Democrats.

Obama called the support by many House members "courageous" in the face of what he called "the heated and often misleading rhetoric around this legislation."

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Filed under: Congress • Health care • President Obama
soundoff (52 Responses)
  1. Orange Curtain, CA

    Wimpy Democrats go home...grow a spine and support the President

    November 8, 2009 02:05 pm at 2:05 pm |
  2. Arms a' twisting

    Good luck with that.

    November 8, 2009 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |
  3. F. AZARRE

    I am glad to see the bill passed eventhough I don't know how much I will pay. My Insurance company already eliminate the HMO in its plan so that means everyone is forcing to buy the expensive plan PPO or else. Better the government plan than the profitor's plan.

    November 8, 2009 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |
  4. phoenix86

    Let's see:

    Obama's policies are detrimental to the economy and contribute to rising unemployment.

    Pelosi and her democrat followers pass a bill to further increase taxes, thereby ensuring that economic recovery will not occur in 2010.

    Obama's right, it is the Senates turn.

    I hope all these elected officials remember that they will also most likely be unemployed come January 2011.

    November 8, 2009 02:22 pm at 2:22 pm |
  5. Tony in Maine

    Uh Oh

    Is that Mitch McConnell attaching a claymore to the hull of ANY health care reform not approved by his corporate masters?

    November 8, 2009 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |
  6. Truth-Bomb Thrower

    And the march to socialism, tyranny, and economic devastation continues. Good work democrats! Good work american voters!

    November 8, 2009 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |
  7. Susie

    "Heated and misleading." I heard Boehner in front of the whole House last night say that his Republican bill ends discrimination due to a pre-existing condition, which was a flat-out lie, corrected by the TV host when someone called in about supporting him. I have no idea why people still believe everything out of his, Palin's, Rush's, Beck's, and Hannity's mouths, when they are shown to be liars again and again. I am so proud of
    Speaker Pelosi and the committees who worked and worked on this and even those who agreed with Stupak's amendment, which WAS a bi-partisan vote. No one LIKES abortion, but it is legal, and I hope that the circumstances covered by the bill are broad enough to help the women in need.

    November 8, 2009 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |
  8. Aspen Professor

    I have always found it fascinating that the right-wing extremists and the bought and paid for Teabaggers would consider themselves more intelligent than the Doctors (of the AMA) and the senior citizens (of the AARP) whose knowledge has been built and sharpened over several decades.

    Both groups have come out in favor of the Dems Health Care Plan. Good for them!

    The Repub 240 page Health Care Non-Plan enables the Insurance Companies to exclude those with pre-existing medical conditions.

    November 8, 2009 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |
  9. Pat F

    What a liar. After the Dems have misled the public about need, cost, effect, goal, etc. etc, of this Bill, he has the GUTS to accuse the oposition of misleading rhetoric.

    Power grab for the Socialist President – Hugo Chavez is SO proud!

    November 8, 2009 02:36 pm at 2:36 pm |
  10. Camille Smith

    Please tell me how mental health issues will addressed in the new health care bill.

    How will illegal immigrants be treated in this bill?

    November 8, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |
  11. greenfish

    What are the republicans going to do now? If this gets through the Senate, is reconciled and becomes law, the wall of NO will collapse around them. One can only hope....

    November 8, 2009 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |
  12. George Guadiane - Austerlitz, NY

    President Obama called the support by many House members "courageous" in the face of what he called "the heated and often misleading rhetoric around this legislation."

    Due respect Mr President, but those who voted FOR this bill were only representing their local and National constituency... It's what ALL politicians SHOULD be doing, especially in light of the "misleading rhetoric" being used by the pawns and supplicants of the Pharma and "Insurance" industries.

    November 8, 2009 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |
  13. Black Viper

    I beleive reform has to start with Hospitals in this country Because only in America a Doctor can be a Multi Millionnaire.
    They are charging outreageous amout of money for little services. It's insane.You go to the emergency room and get a Tylenol the bill comes to be $600 to $700. You do a simple X-ray they charge you more than $3300 for just simply using the X-ray Machine.
    The hospitals kills you and the Insurance companies finishes you by denying you coverage or paying very little and left you with the rest of the bill.
    I wonder why the AMA was first to endorse the bill because it doesn't reduce Doctors Salaries.

    November 8, 2009 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |
  14. Debby

    I hope the Senate isn't as stupid as the House was.

    November 8, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |
  15. Black Viper

    In other countries you can make a descent salary and a nice life being a doctor or a nurse.
    In America you become a doctor to become rich and be a millionnaire.
    Only in America you can go to the Emmergency room, wait 30 mn and have a doctor see you for 5 mn, get a tylenol and have a bill of $600 or $700 to pay.
    Simple MRI X-Ray $3300 Minimum you have to pay.
    I've leaved in Europe and I have never seen a bill of that much spending that little time with X-rays or Emmergency rooms.
    The insurance companies are to be blamed as well for denying care to people paying their premiums but the main target has to be Hospitals.

    November 8, 2009 03:03 pm at 3:03 pm |
  16. Barry In Las Vegas

    Once all of the provisions that were hidden in this bill become public knowledge the Senate will change it so much it will not be recongnizable to the House – which hopeully will then doom this national disaster to the ash heap.

    The fact is, Obama and the Democrats have been the ones misleading the American people about what is really in this bill – but we are all about to find out – then there will be no place for them to hide.

    November 8, 2009 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |
  17. Carole

    First on the list to check off, Joe LIEberman.

    Joe LIEberman only believes in spending money on killing Mideaster peoples and war.

    GOP Healthcare Budget = $0.00(Let them eat cake so they get sicker and die.)

    GOP War Budget = $10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (Money is 'no' object)

    November 8, 2009 03:17 pm at 3:17 pm |
  18. Hammerer

    Isaiah 10:1-2;
    Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.
    Exodus 22:22-24;
    Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainaly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword. Your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

    November 8, 2009 03:18 pm at 3:18 pm |
  19. JES

    When will his family start using the tax bill that passed and give up what they have now. Why they have a much better paln than all of Americans have.

    November 8, 2009 03:31 pm at 3:31 pm |
  20. historian

    Hopefully, insurance coverage will change for Medicare Advantage seniors Some Medicare Advantage plans are like just being on Medicare without the supplement insurance coverage. For one plan, the 2010 hospital deductible is $1680 for seven days in the hospital and 20% for medical devices, etc. Only 10 days coverage for skilled nursing. Medicare pays for 20 days. Prescriptions that fall under Part B of Medicare have a 20% co-pay and some of these drugs cost over a $1,000. Seniors can't afford it. President Obama said Advantage plans don't work, but what will replace them??????

    November 8, 2009 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |
  21. John

    This year my small company had it's health care premiums raised 26.4%. So again this year we switched to a lesser plan, at only a 6% increase. I don't know if this new plan will help. What I do know is that continuing on the current course is the definition of insanity. What is different about today? Today there is a little bit of hope I can continue to provide my employees high quality health care.

    November 8, 2009 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |
  22. Nat, NYC

    I have just one suggestion: the Congressmen have to enroll in the health care they propose. Would you?

    November 8, 2009 03:38 pm at 3:38 pm |
  23. D. Tree

    Any Democrat who thinks that voting against this bill protects them from GOP attacks is sorely mistaken – the GOP will go after Dems no matter what they do. Better to just pass this needed legislation and get on with the business of solving America's problems.

    November 8, 2009 03:40 pm at 3:40 pm |
  24. Henry Miller, Libertarian, Cary, NC

    No, it's up to the Senate to put a stop to this fiscal insanity.

    November 8, 2009 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |
  25. nathan smith ga

    i am very proud of those who voted yes. you showed courage may God bless you!

    November 8, 2009 03:48 pm at 3:48 pm |
  26. tcaudilllg

    Let's finish this up: reconcile the bugger.

    November 8, 2009 03:50 pm at 3:50 pm |
  27. Grrr-awful-o

    And the Senate won't pass it – at least not with a public option. Enough democratic have already gone on the news shows today saying they won't vote for that, that you can see it won't pass. But Obama and Pelosi already knew that. Obama's statements in this article are merely paving the way to throw those Senator's under the bus. Nasty Nancy will do that too. If she didn't intend to do that she wouldn't have produced a bill that she knows Harry Reid can't get through the Senate. What's latin for "Throw 'em under the bus"? That's the Obama administrations motto. It's definitely not "The buck stops here"! It's always somebody else's fault. Like little kids.

    November 8, 2009 03:52 pm at 3:52 pm |
  28. No Hillary = No Obama

    Notice that Obama emphasized the word "historic" – this guy is so full of himself it really makes you wonder how humanitarian he really is under all that arrogance. Maybe the Senate will find their spine and stop this Obama-Pelosi Pony Show in it's tracks.

    November 8, 2009 03:53 pm at 3:53 pm |
  29. Nadeem

    Couragous indeed, Washington has finally aced against the corporate greed of lobbying reform.

    Joe 'i'm beholden to insurance companies' Lieberman better smarten up.

    The party of 'no' is fast becomming the party of 'nobody'

    November 8, 2009 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |
  30. m jeff

    Most Republicans talk about our founding fathers, two hundred years ago, and the future 2010. they have nothing to offer for the present.

    November 8, 2009 04:13 pm at 4:13 pm |
  31. Nea

    If this President do too much he gets criticized if he dont do enough he gets critcized a year gone and the whole year the President needs to do this but not that he have to go here but not there all year long thats all we heard. Please let him be the president ok!

    November 8, 2009 04:13 pm at 4:13 pm |
  32. Matt

    Obama is an ideological idiot. How smart is it to create legislation that you pay for over 10 years for 5 years of service.

    Everyone with a quarter brain (obviously not the democrats) knows that government programs are NOT self sustaining (translation for democrats: IT DOESN"T PAY FOR ITSELF). There is examples even in the healthcare industry (Medicare, Medicaid, VA hospitals...).

    Obama promised not to raise taxes. Yet he has guarenteed that premiums will go up, he is taxing the rich (sounds like Lenin and Stalin) and forcing companies to pay more (sounds like manufacturing/business will move overseas.

    Pelosi, Obama and the rest are cheating the American People in the name of power, greed, and irrational/dishonest thinking. There were better, easier to incorporate plans to ACTUALLY BRING THE COSTS DOWN (instead of subsidizing them with taxpayer funds).

    November 8, 2009 04:20 pm at 4:20 pm |
  33. Willy Brown

    The bill will die in the senate along with the democrat party.

    November 8, 2009 04:21 pm at 4:21 pm |
  34. Tommygunn

    GREAT JOB CONGRESS!!!

    Now it is time the SENATE to PASS their bill!

    If it doesn't positively change the HEALTH system in this country, we can MODIFY it accordingly. So REPUBLICANs, quit all the UGLY and NEGATIVE hypobolic statements and get with the program to make this bill a sound one for AMERICA.

    If all REPUBLICANs truly believe in this being a bad deal, my thoughts are how comfortable are you with MEDICARE OR SOCIAL SECURITY oppose to WALL STREET. There are risk in anything, but it a safer investment when the government is in control of monitoring it and making the necessary changes to improve it.

    November 8, 2009 04:33 pm at 4:33 pm |
  35. lilwind

    House did your vote and we the people will have ansourwer in 2010.

    November 8, 2009 04:49 pm at 4:49 pm |
  36. annie s

    Health care reform seems now to come down to the fact that one man – Joe Lieberman – is holding the Senate hostage. Hope you guys in Connecticut are proud you elected this bozo.

    November 8, 2009 04:56 pm at 4:56 pm |
  37. patrick88

    come on senate its your turn!

    November 8, 2009 05:00 pm at 5:00 pm |
  38. B

    Please- just do it , as they say!

    November 8, 2009 05:08 pm at 5:08 pm |
  39. normajean

    Thirty nine Democrats in the house voted to oppose the health care bill.All 39 of those people and their families are well covered by government health insurance. I'd like to know just who they are and what their justification was for their vote. Thank you to the majority of Democrats who realized that this issue is life and death to a lot of Americas families and not to be taken lightly.

    November 8, 2009 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |
  40. Mickey

    The Dems should just vote on this with or without the Republican's support...you know...like Bush said..."You are either with us, or against us.

    Just vote on it and cram it right down the GOP's pie hole.

    November 8, 2009 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |
  41. Ridgeway

    220 to 215? Now there's a resounding win. Crap. ACORN could have stuck those 5 votes in. Better check and make sure some dead congressmen from Illinois didn't vote, or live ones didn't vote twice.
    This is a joke. But then so is the current administration.
    I hope Ronald Reagan haunt's Hussein's lame butt.

    November 8, 2009 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |
  42. Obozo Needs a "W"

    Poor Obozo. Nothing seems to work. He has the media eating out of his hand, and a majority in Congress, and TV and newspaper commentators shilling for his every move, blaming every failure on Bush. But, nothing seems to work ! Obozo needs a W, badly.

    November 8, 2009 05:46 pm at 5:46 pm |
  43. neil

    Wheres the money, taxpayers have none left!

    November 8, 2009 06:09 pm at 6:09 pm |
  44. Obama care dies.....

    in the Senate....absolutely no chance of passing...the votes are NOT there......

    November 8, 2009 06:18 pm at 6:18 pm |
  45. sandy

    Oh I;m sure the jerks in the Senate will mess around with this bill too. I personally think every politician in the House and Senate should be run out of Washington. they are truly worthless.

    November 8, 2009 06:25 pm at 6:25 pm |
  46. Carnell From The Motor City!

    I Personally Want To Thank The Lone Republican Vote By Congressman Cao R-Louisiana. Now All That Has To Be Done Is Call Out The Sellout Democrats Who Voted Against Health Care, And Make Them Pay.

    November 8, 2009 07:32 pm at 7:32 pm |
  47. Keith in Austin

    The pious giddyness expoused by liberal spenders and those expecting something else FREE from Mother Government will cease when the US Senate crushes this pathetic Healthcare Bill. Enjoy your temporary victory today and the remaining days of those that voted in favor of Obummercare against the will of their constituants! Yesterday marked the true colors of the Democrat Party and will add to it's certain demise in 2010 and 2012!

    November 8, 2009 08:44 pm at 8:44 pm |
  48. Keith in Austin

    I look forward to watching Pelosi's attrocity crash and burn in the Senate!

    November 8, 2009 11:12 pm at 11:12 pm |
  49. Kim

    Senator Reid the ball is in your court. Pelois pulled off an upset and won. Now it's your job to finish it off with 2 seconds left to slam dunk a win against the Republicans!!!

    November 9, 2009 02:11 am at 2:11 am |
  50. Lisa

    The Republicans supported George W. Bush who destroyed this country...you cannot trust their judgement!! Vote for healthcare reform with the Public Option!!!

    November 9, 2009 02:16 am at 2:16 am |
  51. Lisa

    My child asked me "Why the Republicans do not want healthcare for everyone?" I told her because they are there to support the insurance companies.

    November 9, 2009 02:20 am at 2:20 am |
  52. dan smith

    DOA. That's what the House bill will be when it hits the Senate. Any Democrat voting for this monstrosity of a Bill will be voted out of office on their next election cycle.

    November 9, 2009 08:44 am at 8:44 am |