Speaker Nancy Pelosi is surrounded as she walks to the
floor of the House of Representatives for the continuing
health care debate at the U.S. Capitol, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The United States House of Representatives passed an historic health care reform bill by a slim margin of 220-215. 219 Democrats voted for the bill and one lone Republican, Representative Anh Cao of Louisiana, also voted for the bill.

WASHINGTON — Handing President Obama a hard-fought victory, the House narrowly approved a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system on Saturday night, advancing legislation that Democrats said could stand as their defining socialpolicy achievement.

After a daylong clash with Republicans over what has been a Democratic goal for decades, lawmakers voted 220 to 215 to approve a plan that would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years. Democrats said the legislation would provide overdue relief to Americans struggling to buy or hold on to health insurance.

“This is our moment to revolutionize health care in this country,” said Representative George Miller, Democrat of California and one of the chief architects of the bill.

This crucial first step is a defining moment in this legislation's journey to the President's desk. The vote of Representative Anh Cao of Louisiana is significant since it is a break from the party plan of obstructing any type of health care legislation. Other Republicans in the House, I predict, will be getting on board the health care train: or risk irrelevancy for many years. The Republicans have already taken a beating politically. Unified opposition to health care reform will help Democrats do a number on Republicans. It will define Republicans to the American electorarte as the party of "no." Chicago City Hall Examiner and The Chicago Grassroots Political Examiner.