U.S. House of Representatives passes health care reform legislation

In a historic vote and a major victory for President Obama and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed health care reform legislation, giving final approval of the Senate bill by a vote of 219-212. The new legislation is likely to reshape the way Americans deal with medical conditions and prevention measures. It is expected to cost $940 billion and to be implemented over a 10-year period. The measure will provide health insurance for more than 30 million uninsured and will provide protections for millions more against losing their coverage. In a last-ditch effort to kill or stall the bill, there was a Republican motion to recommit the bill to change some language, particularly on abortion, but the move to recommit failed to pass by a vote of 232-199. A reconciliation bill (HR4872)that will allow amendments to the legislation also passed by a slim margin. Republicans have argued that the package is too expensive and promotes excess government powers. Democrats consider the legislation comparable historically to enactment of Social Security after the Great Depression of the 1930s and Medicare in the 1960s. One move that helped secure the victory was President Obama's executive order stating that the healthcare bill would not interfere with an existing ban on federal funding for abortions. That helped change the votes of at least seven pro-life Democrats, led by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan. The reconciliation bill now goes to the Senate, where it cannot be filibustered. Acknowledging that the vote was not an easy one for some House members, President Obama said "we proved that the government...still works for the people." He called it a victory of "common sense." One thing remains certain...the debate and disagreement over this legislation is likely to continue for years.