Health Care Reform Passes In House Vote, 220-215 with one Republican in favor

[Richard Tafoya]

LA Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dcnow/healthcare/

After a day of testy, sometimes repetitive debate, the House tonight passed a landmark healthcare bill that would create a new role for the federal government in supplying insurance for almost all Americans.

Cheers broke out when the vote went over the magic number of 218 needed to pass the legislation. The final vote was 220-215.

In passing the bill, the Democratic-controlled House handed President Obama a major victory on the issue that has become the centerpiece of his domestic agenda. The Senate is considering its version of healthcare reform, and the two plans will have to be reconciled before a final bill goes to the president’s desk.

The debate began around 9 a.m. Eastern and lasted until the final tally was announced more than 11 hours later. For hours, lawmakers spoke in one- or two-minute bursts, giving familiar arguments — but the debate became more raucous and politically pointed as the day wore on.

Among the key points made by Republicans were that the bill was too costly and would be a financial burden on future generations. Democrats countered that the bill would provide a public option for insurance and would significantly expand coverage.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Wow. I really had my doubts this one was going to get through. Special interest groups threw millions against this. Then, the unemployment figures come out the day before? Odds didn't look good. Man, some people worked their butts off to get this passed. I'm impressed!

And now, the Senate. I don't even know what that bill looks like or how close the two are to each other.

Oh! Who was the lone Republican? lol

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Nevermind, I just found out who it was.

Joseph Cao, 41, represents Louisiana 2nd District (New Orleans). According to wikipedia, he's the first Vietnamese American (born in Vietnam) to serve in Congress, and the first Republican elected to that disctrict since 1890. He is a lawyer (who almost became a Roman Catholic priest) who specialized in immigration law and decided to become involved in politics after Hurricane Katrina.

As you might expect, he is pro-life. But he is also a strong environmentalist, decidedly in the Global Warming camp. He was one of only seven Republicans who voted for a resolution disapproving of Rep. Joe Wilson's infamous "You lie!" epithet hurled at Pres. Obama. After being elected he stated his main goal was to "bring economic development home" to New Orleans.

[db44]

Just was watch Cao on CNN. He said it was the best thing for his district (which happens to be highly Democrat). If only everyone voted the for the people that elected them.

[Richard Tafoya]

President Obama issued a brief statement last night and followed up with a Rose Garden press event today.

TPM:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...te.php?ref=fpa

President Obama today said "millions of Americans whose lives will change" when health care reform finally becomes law are grateful to the House for passing a sweeping overhaul bill late last night.

"Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric," Obama said during a brief statement in the Rose Garden, he wanted to recognize the "courageous vote" and add his own gratitude to the House "for taking us this far."

Obama, who spent the night at the Camp David presidential retreat, said he'd called a Montana woman this morning to thank her for telling him about her health care struggle, telling her that the bill pass in part because of her willingness to share her story.

He lauded "extraordinary activism" of those fighting for health care, as his campaign arm Organizing for America put together thank-you welcoming parties for supportive lawmakers as they arrived at their home airports today.

"For years we've been told that this couldn't be done," Obama said, lauding the House bill as something that would provide "stability and security" for Americans with insurance along with bringing down health care costs for families, businesses and government.