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http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0322/Health-care-vote-results-bill-passes-Obama-to-sign-it-into-law

Health care vote results: bill passes, Obama to sign it into law
The health care vote results came in late Sunday night, with the House passing the bill, 219 to 212. President Obama is set to sign the bill into law this week. After that, the Senate will take up 'fixes.'




By Mark Sappenfield, Staff writer
March 22, 2010

The House of Representatives passed health care reform late Sunday night on a 219-to-212 vote, which results in President Obama getting to sign into law this week his top domestic priority.

The vote is being touted as the single most significant piece of domestic legislation to be passed by Congress since Medicare in 1965. Though Democrats and Republicans disagreed on whether it was for good or ill, most acknowledged that it was a historic day in American politics.

The $940 billion bill will cover 32 million uninsured Americans and ban the denial of coverage for preexisting conditions, phasing in taxes on the rich to pay for this expansion of coverage.

The Monitor’s comprehensive Health Care 101 series on what is in the bill – from who is eligible for subsidized insurance to what it means for businesses – can be read here:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0319/Health-care-reform-bill-101-Who-must-buy-insurance

Day of wrangling

Sunday’s vote ended a day of intense negotiations among Democrats and repeated procedural attempts to kill the bill by Republicans.

In the end, not a single Republican voted for the bill. But Democrats were able to cobble together enough votes to win by striking deals with two groups of Democrats who were on the fence: anti-abortion Democrats and Democrats concerned that the funding mechanisms for the bill were unfair to certain states.

Mr. Obama will now sign a bill that many of the people who voted for it say is flawed. Regardless of what happens next, that bill will become law when Obama signs it, perhaps on Tuesday.

How to fix the bill

But Democrats want to fix it – removing some unpopular deals struck to win the votes of Senators when it passed the Senate on Christmas Eve. The House passed its package of fixes Sunday night. In order for Obama to sign those fixes into law, though, they must also be passed by the Senate – a strategy that involves a great deal of trust between House and Senate Democrats

This is because Democrats lost their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate with the election of Sen. Scott Brown (R) of Massachusetts in January. That means they can only pass the fixes by a simple majority, and that will likely only be possible through the controversial process of reconciliation.

That process is expected to begin as early as Wednesday, and it involves taking the entire package of fixes apart – provision by provision – and determining whether each serves the purpose of reducing the deficit, which is a prerequisite of any reconciliation measure.

If any provision is thrown out on this basis, the entire package of fixed could be jeopardized. With Republicans likely to provide strong resistance, the process could take weeks.

Back to work

Sunday night, however, was a political victory for Obama and particularly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who rescued the bill from the brink of failure after the election of Senator Brown.

With opinion polls showing that a majority of Americans oppose the bill – and with many members of the House putting their careers on the line for the reform – Obama now faces the task of selling reform to a skeptical nation.

He is expected to begin a traveling tour to persuade Americans of the benefits of health care reform as early as this week.

It's like twilight zone.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100030793/a-dark-day-for-freedom-in-america/

Nile Gardiner
Nile Gardiner is a Washington-based foreign affairs analyst
and political commentator. He appears frequently on American and
British television and radio, including Fox News Channel, CNN, BBC,
Sky News, and NPR.


A dark day for freedom in America
Telegraph
By Nile Gardiner
March 22nd, 2010

The passage last night of Barack Obama’s health-care reform bill through the House of Representatives is yet another blow to freedom in America inflicted by the Obama administration. The legislation, which comes at a staggering cost of $940 billion, will hugely add to the already towering national debt, now at over $12 trillion. It is yet another millstone round the necks of the American people, already faced with the highest levels of unemployment in a generation.

It is also a great leap forward by the United States towards a European-style vision of universal health-care, which will only lead to soaring costs, higher taxes, and a surge in red tape for small businesses. This reckless legislation dramatically expands the power of the state over the lives of individuals, and could not be further from the vision of America’s founding fathers. It has also been rushed through Congress without proper scrutiny, in the face of overwhelming public opposition, and with not an ounce of bipartisan support.

Above all the health-care bill is a thinly disguised vanity project for a president who is committed to transforming the United States from the world’s most successful large-scale free enterprise economy, to a highly interventionist society with a massive role for centralized government. The United States has thrived as a nation for over 230 years precisely because of its love for freedom and its belief in free markets.

What we have just witnessed is a massive slap in the face for limited government and the principle of individual responsibility. Its net result will be the erosion of freedom in America, and a further undermining of the country’s economic competitiveness. This may be a political victory for the president and his supporters in Congress, but it is in reality a defeat for America as a great power, and another Obama-led step towards US decline.

I do not see a problem with this. Until the government starts to do something that's ACTUALLY infringing on my freedom (aside from the annoying things they do now with regards to public televison and radio.) I'm not going to complain. I read a summary of what the Bill meant, and it honestly doesn't seem that bad. I think all the hype surrounding this thing is just a shitty attempt to criticize Obama and call him a socialist, because Americans associate that word with fascism and evil. To be honest, I think Obama's just going to be "Another president" who does one or two things worth mentioning in the history books, but ultimately was just "there" doing his job.

WE'RE DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!



I ain't askeered...

This bill is pure insanity!


It will further erode the economy. Cost jobs. Degrade the quality of healthcare.

Remember when the country couldn't afford Medicare?

Oh wait... we still can't!

But now supposedly we can afford both Medicare -and- Health Care Reform!

You know... When private companies practice "creative" accounting, it is called a crime. When the Democrats do it, it is called... "Reform".

A majority of Americans are OPPOSED to this bill.

But the Democrats passed it anyway!

Why?

Because our "comrades" in the Democratic Party leadership, always know what is best for the lowly working class, regardless of what they actually want.

DEMOCRATS: "We are going to insure that all Americans receive Health Care!"

How?

"By passing a law forcing you to purchase it! And charging you fines if you don't!"

Oh, I see! Awesome!! Our heroes!!! We're saved!!!!!!

And guess who isn't required, under this bill, to purchase health care insurance?

Illegal Immigrants!

Oh, so... NOW the Democrats want to enforce the fact that these people are illegal, well, at least where contributing (or not, rather) to health care costs are concerned!

Thank you comrade Democrats!

"And guess who isn't required, under this bill, to purchase health care insurance?

Illegal Immigrants!

Oh, so... NOW the Democrats want to enforce the fact that these people are illegal, well, at least where contributing (or not, rather) to health care costs are concerned!"

Oh big damned deal, Craig!

You've said some pretty odd stuff since I've been coming on here, but that one sits right at the top of my list of "Craig's Mouth Candy!"

Tell you what, Craig. I think we should all band together & demand that our gov't require illegal immigrants to purchase Americanized health insurance.

Once again, your emotions rule you, don't they?

I'm not saying I'm for this bill, either, but then again I haven't read it, & if I did, I'm not sure I'd really understand all of the legalese they dump in there. I'm quite sure you wouldn't, with responses like that one, though.

Careful, Craig, your EQ's showing!

Phil, in researching this bill, I learned that the people who are not required to participate in it, are...

1) Native Americans
2) Prisoners
3) Illegal Immigrants


The last one is a contradiction of the Democrats' normal attitude toward illegals... "They are not illegal, only 'undocumented'!" "We should give them driver's licenses, and car insurance, and as many government benefits afforded to REAL AMERICAN CITIZENS, as possible!"

But when it comes to paying for this TRILLION dollar health care program?

"Well, no, they're illegal, they shouldn't have to pay into that system!"

I really don't know why you are so angry I point out that hypocrisy?

Funny state and local governments have to pass balanced budgets, but the federal government just keeps getting bigger without clear cut ways to repay. Its scary.

I have had to shut down a couple of business's thru the years without any bailouts from anywhere. Its just crazy. WHen something is not working, it should be shut down, not added too.

Anyway what do I know? They will just keep taking away from what I make til I cant pay for it anymore, what happens then?

Craig I thought you liked our president? Not that it matters at this point, we are stuck with him til the next election.

I'm not angry, Craig. I'm laughing.

How the hell can you require illegals to pay into the system??

Hey, while we're at it, let's make 'em pay taxes, & get green cards, &...oh, wait a minute...then they wouldn't BE illegals anymore, would they?

I do think it's unnecessary to put that in the bill, since, by being illegals, they aren't likely to pay into the system anyway.

I think it's really stupid to bitch about it, though. REALLY stupid.

Gripe about something we CAN control, but illegals? Pffft! Work on controlling thier being here & quit worrying about whether they're stealing American health care. Of course, you could always go that other great charitable route, & DENY them any help at all when they get sick or injured on our soil, right? Yeah, boot 'em the hell back to Mexico & let thier health system take care of 'em! (...if they survive the trip.)

While you're at it, make it so "good" Americans, like Sarah Palin, don't hafta go to Canada as an illegal to steal thier health care!

This is a non-issue, Craig, cuz you can't make them pay anything more than what they have in thier pockets at the time they recieve the care. I'm surprized that a guy with your IQ can't see that.

If you want to talk about hypocracy, I'll be more than willing to mention how, out of one side of your mouth, you talk about Palin & how she's the savior of America & such, & how you gripe about us giving aid to illegals. From the other side of your mouth, you talk about how we're the most giving ppl on the continent, yet, when we have a chance to give to someone in need of aid, you bitch about it cuz of thier non-citizen status, while your feminist hero has done the very same thing in Canada. Yeah, you're a perfect example of the American "giver," Craig. No hypocracy there, right?

You claim that this has been "shoved down your throat." What aid, to what country, has not been done in such a manner? WHO have YOU voted for because thier campaign promised to give aid to another country, excepting your religious stance on Israel?

ALL the aid we've ever given ANYONE has been "shoved down your throat," Craig. You haven't voted on a single instance, unless they catered to your religious preferences. Tell me I'm wrong, & I'll know you're lying, cuz these things haven't been part of anyone's platform in any campaign, aside from eternal aid & military support to Israel, even after they killed innocent Americans, themselves, & tried to make it look as though it was those evil Egyptians that did it.

You want to pick & choose those you would deem worthy of help, & you & Glen & SG & your ilk would even leave a lot of Americans out of the equation, because you don't think they've made the right choices or haven't been smart enough or hard-working enough to get health insurance on thier own.

HYPOCRACY? Yeah, these forae are rife with it, Craig, & it ain't necessarilly those ppl you would point your pointy finger at who are the most guilty, as far as I can see. This is yet another great example of christian charity at work, ain't it? Back up & look at things from another perspective once in awhile.

You know I have to laugh.

Someone locally just mentioned that this county in NJ we live in is rated 4th in entire country for aggregate income.

Most everyone here has medical and dental.

I do not, but I'd love to buy in.

All they cry about is how much they think it's going to drive up the cost of THEIR plan.

If I have to hear another word about how these pussies have to pay a 10$ copay and whine about how much they THINK the cost of this will go up, I am going to climb the highest tower I can find and start faqing shooting.


GEE DO YOU THINK THE REST OF US COULD BUY INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM NOW OR DO YOU HAVE TO BE AN ELITIST FAQ TO HAVE YOUR TEETH CLEANED/SEE THE DR. FOR A REGULAR COLD?

The next rich guy that says something stupid will be picking his teeth off the ground and that includes all bible beating, wig wearing, too much $ spending MFERS with nothing much to do except talk sh*t and go on vacation.

The regular people are getting ready to EAT THE RICH and burn every thing you own.

It's like Marie Antoinette. "Let them eat cake". The peasants beheaded all the nobles and people of privilege.

Well guess what? No more cake left and most of us would rather cook YOU instead. It doesn't matter how bad you taste or how fat you are, the dog has to eat too. He'll just get the fingers/toes/waste meat.

I'm suddenly feelin' much healthier now.

Nice Capt! Seems like all the people trying to prevent you from getting health insurance already have Cadillac plans. Hmmm...

You know I don't want to upset anyone's coffee, but I like Sans plan.


IF you don't pay to get in, you don't get any. Period. no exceptions.

I paid in all of my life. I haven't been to see a dr. in 10 years.

I feel fine, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to go and get a checkup.

It's like a guy I know moved here from an other country. (eh?) lol

He wasn't covered and had an emergency. He went to the er because he had no choice. They had him sign up for "charity care". (WTF is that>?)

They agreed that he was in no shape to pay for treatment.

Long story short, they treated his symptoms and released him.
2 weeks later, he got a bill for 40K.

He's not going to pay, even if he could. And they are sending him to collections etc.

Who the faq is running this show anyway?

SAY the treatment they gave him was worth 40k, (HAHAHAHAHAHA) why go as far as they did when they knew he had no insurance and was on charity care?

Hospitals = thieves
Doctors = thieves
Lawyers/politicians = biggest thieves

The Hippocratic oath says nothing about being greedy and getting rich.

If doctors want to get rich like Donald Trump, please change careers because the rest of us just want to live 1 more day.

Let me make sure I understand you, Capt.

If you come down with some nasty bug or cancer (not wishing this on ya, btw), & have no insurance or $ to pay for treatments, you'd be willing to die because you failed to plan for such things? You should be denied care,without insurance or $?

Should you lose everything you have, & everything you're ever again be able to make, because you got SICK or fell off a ladder?

You should be made to lose your job, because your co doesn't want to take payments out of your check to cover your bills?

Thes things happen every day, but I guess, if you're one of those few who never gets ill, your idea works really well. For the rest of us, I guess it'd be okay to dump us on the streets & take everything we've ever made to cover those outrageous bills that include such fair market pricing as $60 for a band aid, right?

I hope you're being sarcastic.