US Senate backs historic health bill
Source: Agencies |
December 25, 2009, Friday
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SENATE Democrats yesterday passed a landmark health-care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in United States history.
The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures to get to this point.
Joe Biden, who as vice president also serves as president of the Senate, presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."
The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage, but clearly showed the philosophical split between Democrats and Republicans over how American health care should be delivered.
That acrimony is expected to persist as the Senate's bill gets merged with legislation passed by the House. That has to happen before Obama can sign a final bill in the new year.
There are significant differences between the two measures but Democrats say they've come too far now to fail. Both bills would extend health insurance to more than 30 million more Americans.
The bill's passage will offer Obama a bright end to an often rocky year that began with huge hopes following his election victory. His public approval level now hovers around 50 percent as he copes with high unemployment, violence in Afghanistan and the health-care debate.
Obama delayed his Christmas vacation in Hawaii until the Senate vote, a sign of its importance to his presidency. The legislation will likely shape the 2010 congressional elections and possibly Obama's 2012 re-election bid.
Obama quickly hailed Senate passage of the bill and said his government was now "finally poised to deliver on the promise" of overhauling a troubled system.
He noted that presidents since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 have been trying unsuccessfully to overhaul medical care.
Obama also repeated his theme that the bill would help end long-criticized insurance industry practices.
The Senate bill "includes the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable," Obama said.
Vicki Kennedy, widow of late Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy, who made health reform his life's work, watched the vote from the gallery.
Speaking before the vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid said it marked the beginning of a process to improve the American health system.
After passage, House Minority Republican Leader John Boehner assailed the bill.
"Not even Ebenezer Scrooge himself could devise a scheme as cruel and greedy as Democrats' government takeover of health care," the Ohio Republican said.
He said the legislation would increase health costs for families and small businesses, raise taxes and cut into federal benefits for the elderly.
The legislation will cost nearly US$1 trillion over 10 years, paid for by taxes, fees and Medicare cuts.
The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures to get to this point.
Joe Biden, who as vice president also serves as president of the Senate, presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."
The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage, but clearly showed the philosophical split between Democrats and Republicans over how American health care should be delivered.
That acrimony is expected to persist as the Senate's bill gets merged with legislation passed by the House. That has to happen before Obama can sign a final bill in the new year.
There are significant differences between the two measures but Democrats say they've come too far now to fail. Both bills would extend health insurance to more than 30 million more Americans.
The bill's passage will offer Obama a bright end to an often rocky year that began with huge hopes following his election victory. His public approval level now hovers around 50 percent as he copes with high unemployment, violence in Afghanistan and the health-care debate.
Obama delayed his Christmas vacation in Hawaii until the Senate vote, a sign of its importance to his presidency. The legislation will likely shape the 2010 congressional elections and possibly Obama's 2012 re-election bid.
Obama quickly hailed Senate passage of the bill and said his government was now "finally poised to deliver on the promise" of overhauling a troubled system.
He noted that presidents since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 have been trying unsuccessfully to overhaul medical care.
Obama also repeated his theme that the bill would help end long-criticized insurance industry practices.
The Senate bill "includes the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable," Obama said.
Vicki Kennedy, widow of late Massachusetts senator Edward Kennedy, who made health reform his life's work, watched the vote from the gallery.
Speaking before the vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid said it marked the beginning of a process to improve the American health system.
After passage, House Minority Republican Leader John Boehner assailed the bill.
"Not even Ebenezer Scrooge himself could devise a scheme as cruel and greedy as Democrats' government takeover of health care," the Ohio Republican said.
He said the legislation would increase health costs for families and small businesses, raise taxes and cut into federal benefits for the elderly.
The legislation will cost nearly US$1 trillion over 10 years, paid for by taxes, fees and Medicare cuts.
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