Health Care-Reform Passes In House 220-215--Details Here
First and foremost, KNOW WHAT THE BILL SAYS. I don't want to hear about socialism. There's NOTHING about socialism in it. Read ALL of it HERE. Please don't comment on it on here until you are fully informed. There's plenty of non fact checking, it's all about me me me, I hate you and will tell people not to show up if you're there-- grade school kind of lies blogs in Tennessee, (who claim they are political bloggers--I'm not talking about mommy blogs or music blogs or personal blogs) mostly on the left I'm sad to say.
You want facts, you've come to the right place. Please read the bill. All informed views are welcome.
64 Democrats threw women under a bus on freedom of choice. You can see who they are
HERE.
Washington (CNN) -- The House of Representatives on Saturday night passed a sweeping health care bill by a vote of 220-215.
Earlier, the House passed an amendment to pending health care legislation that prohibits federal funds for abortion services in the public option and in the insurance "exchange" the bill would create.
The vote passed 240-194.
A second amendment considered by the House, introduced by Minority Leader John Boehner, which would have substituted several sections of the health care bill dealing with insurance, did not pass. Legislators voted against the amendment 258-176.
The first amendment, introduced by anti-abortion Democrats, bans federal funds for abortion services in the public option and in the insurance "exchange" the bill would create. Its consideration was considered a big win for them and for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which used its power -- especially with conservative Democrats in swing congressional districts -- to help force other Democratic leaders to permit a vote that most of them oppose.
The prohibition, introduced by Democratic members, including Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Indiana, and Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, would exclude cases of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger.
Republicans strongly supported the measure.
The GOP accounted for 174 of the votes in favor of the amendment, with 1 Republican voting "present."
On the Democrat's side, 64 voted for the measure, and 194 voted against.
Read the House bill (PDF)
Earlier Saturday, President Obama said members of the House of Representatives face the chance of a lifetime as they consider the legislation.
After a meeting with the House Democratic leadership, the president said he told lawmakers that "opportunities like this come around maybe once in a generation."
"This is their moment, this is our moment, to live up to the trust that the American people have placed in us," Obama told reporters in the White House rose garden. "Even when it's hard, especially when it's hard, this is our moment to deliver."
He had just returned from Capitol Hill, where the House had begun debate on the nearly $1.1 trillion health care bill.
A senior Democratic aide quoted the president as saying during the meeting that he was "absolutely confident" that they would pass the legislation.
"When I sign this in the rose garden, each and every one of you will be able to look back and say, 'This was my finest moment in politics,'" the aide quoted Obama as saying.
To find out the details of the bill and read more, click HERE.
Honestly? It's utter foolishness to celebrate at this point.
This is NOT the bill that will make it to Obama's desk (if one makes it at all).
The Senate must still pass something -- and they're having an extremely difficult time drumming up votes to pass what THEY have, and that doesn't begin to approach what the House bill does.
And when the Senate does pass something, then the whole process has to go to conference so the two bills can be merged...and then both houses have to vote AGAIN.
Sharon, believe me when I say this because Congressional precedent is clear on this issue:
What winds up on the President's desk will be an incredibly watered down and far less effective version of what was passed last night. The chances of reduced costs in the health care market will be virtually nil, and whatever public option happens to exist will only cover a few million people -- just a small percentage of the current uninsured in this country.
Other than calling this a "foot in the door", I really fail to see what the point of it all is. It's not exactly helping matters if the final bill makes things WORSE.
And you can thank spineless, money-grabbing, beholden politicians on BOTH sides for this mess.
That's right, Sharon. The Democrats in Congress are going to be just as much to blame for the POS that we end up with as the Republicans are. Oh, your buddies like CaptainKona might deny this...but anyone with any real intelligence (or knowledge about Congress) knows that it's true.
(And by the way...what's the deal with the President saying that this was will be his "finest moment in politics"??? I thought that we had change...not more of the same. But if this is all about politics for him...wow, what a shame. We DO have more of the same.)
Posted by
Matt Daley |
November 8, 2009 10:15 AM
When I heard the news that the bill passed with just 5 votes in its favour, I was thinking that's pretty low for how important this is.
Ella from Toronto
Posted by
Ella from Toronto |
November 8, 2009 11:17 AM
220-215 is an extremely close margin. And just imagine how many votes had to be cajoled over to the "yes" side in order to get even that slim 5-vote margin. Many on the left didn't want to vote for this on their own volition.
And that just makes my point from earlier even more clear.
Expectations that anything significant will happen here are just wrong.
Posted by
Matt Daley |
November 8, 2009 11:43 AM
Matt-
What worries me is a self righteous, too powerful, Joe Lieberman.
He said he'd vote with the GOP, which would leave the GOP in his debt forever, so when he switches parties, he'll get a great chairmanship. In fact, I need to write a piece about that.
He's way too powerful and the future of health care shouldn't come down to one pompous, self righteous Joe Lieberman--but make my words, it will.
Posted by
Sharon Cobb |
November 8, 2009 7:56 PM
Sharon,
No, the future of this reform bill does not come down to just Joe Lieberman. He's a great scapegoat, I'm sure...but there are several other Democrats, especially in the Senate, who are putting themselves above reform. This is being done either out of electoral concern, out of concern for their source of funding, or both.
If this wasn't true...if every Democrat was clean on this issue (and if Harry Reid had a spine)...then Joe Lieberman could be left to twist in the wind. His actions wouldn't matter.
I can understand the anger at Lieberman...but not at the expense of recognizing where insurance and pharma lobbying money is going and not at the expense of knowing that re-election concerns are trumping reform.
Posted by
Matt Daley |
November 9, 2009 1:08 AM