House Narrowly Passes Historic Health Care Bill - 11-07-09 Video
Lawmakers have voted 220-215 to pass the health care reform bill. - Oct. 02, 2009 -
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a massive overhaul of the American health care system Saturday night by a vote of 220 to 215. One Republican, Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana, crossed the aisle to vote for it, while 39 Democrats joined the Republicans in opposing the measure.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called passage of the bill "an historic moment for our nation and for America's families," while Republicans warned that the bill will raise taxes, increase insurance premiums and make cuts to Medicare. An enormous round of applause broke out throughout the House chamber when the crucial 218th vote was cast to ensure the bill's passage.
The $1.3 trillion-dollar bill would require individuals to buy health insurance, and would also require medium and large businesses to provide it to their employees. Consumers would be able to buy their insurance on an exchange, which would include a public insurance option for people who do not have access to insurance through their jobs. Low- and middle-income families would receive government subsidies to purchase insurance, which would be be paid for through tax increases on individuals making more than $500,000 per year, as well as fees on medical providers. Finally, the bill would prohibit insurance companies from dropping or denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions or cost of care.
The day of the vote was punctuated by high drama, as the House gaveled into a rare weekend session with no indication of whether the Speaker had all 218 votes necessary to pass the bill. But a last- minute addition to the bill to appease pro-life Democrats, as well as a high-profile visit from President Obama to press Democratic members to vote for the measure, provided just enough momentum to pass it through the House with two votes to spare.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer began the debate by saying, "This is not a new idea, but it is an idea whose time has come." Hoyer said that the bill under consideration was not perfect, but was the result of "careful scrutiny, hard work, citizen input, and is the right response to this time of economic insecurity in which we find ourselves."
Pelosi added that the bill would also reduce drug costs for seniors, prevent insurance companies from charging women more than men for the same coverage, and would allow young adults to stay on their parents' insurance until their 27th birthdays. She also promised that the bill would add "not one dime to the deficit."
Republicans countered that the bill will in fact explode the deficit and give the federal government an out-sized and improper role in Americans' health care decisions. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tx.) said, "I just don't think it's right that in the guise of helping Americans, we're telling Americans what they have to do."
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said that the federal government is not capable of running many of the programs it is already responsible for, and should not be trusted with more responsibilities for Americans' health care: "We have talked to mothers who say, 'You can't even get the H1-N1 vaccine out there and you think you're going to handle the health care for my children?' " Manufacturers have not been able to supply enough of the vaccine because of the difficulty of producing it.
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) warned, "I have no doubt that although the American people may forget what was said here, they will never forget what was done here and who did it to them."
A crucial barrier to the bill was eliminated when the House passed an amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), a pro-life Democrat, by a vote of 240 to 192. Stupak's measure would prevent insurance companies from participating in the new government exchange if they also cover abortion. It would also require women enrolled in the exchange to purchase supplemental abortion insurance with private funds if they want to be covered for the service in the future.
Speaking on the House floor Saturday, Stupak called the existing House bill a "direct assault" on existing limits to federal funding for abortion, but pro-choice Democrats lined up in staunch opposition to his effort. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) called Stupak's amendment "an insult to millions of American women," while Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said, "To say that this amendment is a wolf in sheep's clothing would be the understatement of a lifetime. If enacted this will be the greatest restriction on a woman's right to choose in our careers."
Although Pelosi initially resisted the Stupak amendment, the congressman had garnered commitments from more than 40 fellow pro-life Democrats to derail the entire health reform effort without stricter apportion language in the bill. Despite Stupak's victory Saturday, opponents of his measure vowed to strip it from the final bill in the conference committee.
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TheRealTaco87: Total disregard for the constitution.
independent684: Yeah, You know why Because when bush left office he told the new administration O by the way there's about 2 trillion dollars that also needs to go on the card.We could hear it now HE HE HE HE There must be something wrong with that little stripy black thing on the back of the card HE HE HE HE Bush is the stupid son of a bitch that ever held office year to date.But the decade is still young!
OneCourageous: This b*tch needs a genuine beat down.
prffsrx: Dems are Doomed!
prffsrx: Dems R Doomed! Now they want to push socialist government health care down your throat, because their socialist economic policies were designed to fail so they could create a nation of dependents to the federal government. In that way, they could one day buy the votes of Americans until the day they do away with the election process all together. They will say that it is for national security purposes, but it is a way to introduce totalitarianism, which is Obama's preferred form of government.
jsinger101: Typical fucking redneck statement. Americans are so stupid thanks to the republican party and its' war on intelligence and human progress.
milehigh587: Go read this bill and do a find on "waiting list". Pelosi and these fucking democraps have lied to everyone of us saying there would be no waiting list. Don't take my word for it look. It uses waiting lists as a means to control costs if they go over budget. What government agency doesn't go over budget? 2010
milehigh587: Hey dutch boy. Maybe American's aren't like you pussy Euro trash types who have to be hand held by the government from cradle to grave. Europeans can't fucking think for themselves. They've sold their lives to the governments. That makes you a fucking joke in our eyes dutch boy. Now shut the fuck up and go eat a tulip you prick.
independent684: As the states are relying on borrowed tax dollars from the government to pay fire dept, police, state workers, municipalities workers checks.The transition has already accrued to socialism.Capitalism caused socialism, Man what do you say to something like that.Guess just change your religion with no choice But what do you call it when a nations government is running on borrowed money from a communist country
Berch19: So this is how liberty dies, to thunderous applause.
treid100182: EAT IT, GOP... you fucking self-destructive mutants... ...go choke on your own racism, and ignorance, you cold-hearted dingleberries... BYE BYE, GOP...America is through with you, ...and thanks for the infighting; you guys are so predictable.
KarmicOmen: You must be uninsured 6 months to qualify for ObamaCare. Hope and pray that within that 6-month waiting period, you do not need an oncologist for a suspicious lump, or suspected relapse.
dark28m: straight out of Revenge of the Sith, good quote
jjcarlso: She makes it sound like a land slide.
DAHAZE10: If that is indeed socialism, which I dont personally believe, then it was not caused by capitalism. It was caused by state overspending and poor fiscal management by the states. Here in Colorado this year the gov was planting flowers on traffic medians. After this they didn't have $ for public services. This is only 1 case of fiscal irresponsibilities by the state. The problem was not caused by capitalism.
independent684: Well what do you call the bail out money from the taxpayers that didn't have it ,so the government had to borrow it from a communist country. then give it to wall street and the banks? are they part of capitalism? Capitalism caused socialism .Man what do you say to something like that.Guess just change your religion.With no choice
independent684: You even had that 200 year old man kudlw from the kudlow report pull his commercial CAPITALISM IS THE BEST WAY TO PROSPERITY. I had 2 crews that work for me from colorado.Go back to sleep on mommy and daddies couch. And stay in school
independent684: Dazed and Confused, Where are you
MrEmesis: This bill will never see the light of day as law. A mandate requiring all individuals to purchase health insurance would be an unprecedented form of federal action. The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States. Should it pass the next round, the GOP will get the Supreme Court involved.
leddhed: Each and every one of those who voted for this mess have voted to end their careers in Congress.
repubtodem: Hear ye hear ye tea party! all republicans senate & reps in office have been supporting abortion for 18 years they choose Signa as there healthcare provider, signa covers abortions!! Hear ye hear ye tea party folks republicans in office support death panels what was suppose to be health care reform a entire page dedicated to the same death panels as you call them. at the signa site! so once again repubs in office are hypocrites & to re-vote them in makes you one as well! lololol. love news!!
wotrabbitfish: ok i'll buy the goddam insurance if i can get one night with this guinea broad & her huge knockers
ASentinel2: Now it's up to 63% and climbing.... The revelation from page....I dunno 1200 something about not allowing mamograms for middle aged women etc... Was reeeeeal popular.. Seem's Grayson's accusation comes from perhaps a freudian slip from his party, because the Dum's want women to not get breast cancer, but if you do, we won't test for it, so DIE Quickly... Not smart. These guys are vacant retards... Go ahead pass it....you're done in 2010. And we'll throw it out with you.
letzteschlact2: Nancy Pelosi, the current expert practitioner of BOHICA ... chinga tu, Nancy, chinga tu.
Kamira1787: God, please get rid of that disgusting, anti-Catholic Pelosi. She makes me SICK!
Author: OnlineNewsPaper; Uploaded: Nov 8, 2009; Duration: 0:52; Views: 976
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