Senate passes $871 billion health care bill
Washington (CNN) - The Senate passed a sweeping $871 billion health care reform plan Thursday morning, giving President Barack Obama a major victory on his top domestic priority.
The bill passed in a strict 60 to 39 party line vote. Every member of the Democratic caucus backed the measure; every Republican opposed it.
The Senate bill now has to be merged with a roughly $1 trillion plan approved by the House of Representatives in November. Democrats will have to bridge differences on a range of thorny issues, including how to pay for a compromise plan, language relating to abortion coverage, and whether to include a government-run public health insurance option.
Democratic leaders hope to have a bill ready for Obama's signature before the president's State of the Union address early next year.
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Let's see what happens when the House and Senate merge the bills together. I would like to see somethings included. They need to make agreements on what is the same quickly and get to the problem areas quickly.
It passed even though Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Bachmann, Dick Morris, and the usual liars from Fox news interpreted the phrase in the bill, ". . .no rationed medical care. . ." to mean there would be rationed medical care or death panels.
I know there has to be an influential right wingnut that is not a liar, but haven't heard from them yet.
I am pleased that the democratic party actually tried to help the 45 million uninsured. If this wasn't Christmas, Eve, I would tell the new Republican/John Birch Society Party to "rot in hell." But since it is Christmas I will only say, "Merry Christmas to all."
CONGRATULATION FOR PASSING HEALTH CARE BILL AFTER ALMOST DECADE.
Bill is going to make some Conservative people upset but it will be going in right direction.
Republicans like Olimpia Snow, Chuck grassley who wasted time in the pretext of Bipartisan should be remember by voters in their next election.
We call Republicans conservative because they don't have open mind only one mentality and that is I win you loose.
Democrtats are Liberal and alway looks for WIN WIN situation.
Post below says it all. Democrats favored over republicans. BOO HOO HOO! Congratulations president Obama, you have now done more in 1 year in office than the last administration had done in 8. OSAMA BIN LADEN IS STILL A FREE MAN. Remember that when you bash the current president.
Harry Reid should be commended for keeping the democrats together. Harry shows us that Nevada actually has one true senator. The other one is an adulterer who violates ethics laws with his lover's husband as a lobbyist, and has his parents pay almost $100,000 to keep them quiet.
Ensign would not know a solemn oath if it bit him on the behind, and it just might this time.
Wow! Good news for the ordinary american. God bless obama,GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
I agree that health care reform is important, but somehow doubt that this bill solves any of the problems (and may add to them). Regardless, I expect my taxes to rise soon.
I hate you and will do my best to make sure NONE of you get re-elected. You who voted for this SUCK and should be impeached.
YES! Another step in the right direction. Now onto conference...
Health Reform Now with a majority-supported public option for the American people!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
This is pathetic. I know of two votes that will go against the two Va. senators when they come up for re-election since they voted for it. If they were going to vote for it they could have at least cut a deal for the state like Nelson did for his.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you, your families and friends!
What a year this has been for 2009! Have great faith in welcoming 2010!
Well done! Even the united hatred and evil of the Republicans could not block the country from doing what is right for all the people.
11 months to election day, then we get new leadership in the House and Senate and put the puppet in the White House under control.
My appreciation towards all the people working at informing us; I am greatful and Thankful to all of you, for all your dedication and professionalism in being part of our lives. It is also always a pleasure to get to see and hear at times bits and pieces that reflects everyone's personality which makes all your presence even more appreciative. It is always the authentic presence of people that makes the differences in all people's lives!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you, your families and friends!
What a year this has been for 2009! Have great faith in welcoming 2010!
Diane Dagenais Turbide
Yay America!!!!!!
Today is a sad day for America. The comunist half breed of Hussain Obama managed to strike another blow to this great nation. When are we going to raise and demand that this bastard be impeached and tried for high crimes and treason against the USA? Are we just sheep being led to the sloughter without a fight? On christmas eve the Senate does this to America and there are no street protests? Like I said today is a very sad day for this country.
This may not be the best bill but it is a start. If the likes of Lieberman, Nelson and Republicans would have worked with the Democrats it could have been a better one.
Hopefully after the merging with the House we will get a better bill.
What I do know is that we need to get true Democrats in the Senate and get rid of as many of the Republicans and blue dogs as we can in 2010 and 2012.
Until the Republicans, after being elected, start working for the people
instead of their party we will continue to get less then we deserve in any bill.
Thanks for some leadership for a change. Now lets get more people back to work and then fix education so that our kids will have a better chance in the years to come.
BAD BILL wheres the cost cuts? where is the public op? where is a cap on prescription prices or the cost cuts of hosp. visits. this is nothing more then insurance being forced down the throughts. BAD BILL
These pictures will be play thousand of more times by challengers to the liberals and democrats during the 2010 and 2012 elections. Thank you libs for giving us free campaign commercials. It will be like pictures of the old Soviet diet doing whatever Stalin (Obama) wanted. I and millions of other actual working, taxpaying and voting Americans, do not relish paying for all the bribes it took to get this bill passed so Hussein Obama and his thugs could bankrupt this country more, but we are thankful that the true face of liberalism and his lies now show so we can send these people back under the rocks they have been hiding under.
Obama, Our victory will be making you a ONE TERM jerk and now you will have to convince all of us that you are not breaking the constitution, go ahead and fine me, I WILL NOT PAY.ama,
Just what I wanted for Christmas. Government controlled healthcare! Its my life, my money, and my health. Let me control it thank you!
Congratulations from Canada...to my American friends. Years from now...you will look back on this day and say.."what was I afraid of ?"
The Democratic party should really be proud. They only paid nearly a billion taxpayer dollars to buy enough to pass a bill that is overwhelmingly opposed by Americans. That is their way!