Video: Senate vote on health care reform passes 60-39. Christmas Eve, the Senate passed the $871 billion health care bill, in a 60-39 vote. Every Democrat in the Senate voted for the bill, and every Republican voted against it.
The House of Representatives approved a $1 trillion plan, and this health care bill must now be merged with that. And the bill should be ready for President Obama to sign before the State of the Union address in January.
The health care bill will provide insurance coverage to 30 million Americans who are not currently covered.
Senate members completed the vote early Thursday, many exhausted and rushing off with suitcases in tow, going directly to the airport.
The health care debate is "about life and death in America," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said before the vote. "It's a question of morality, of right and wrong. It's about human suffering. And given the chance to relieve this suffering, we must take this chance."
Reid said that he was "sorry to say that for the first time in American history, a political party has chosen to stand on the sidelines rather than participate in great -- and greatly needed -- social change."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that it is "clear that even many of the people who support this bill with their votes don't like it." Otherwise, he said, "they wouldn't be rushing it through Congress on Christmas Eve."
"There is widespread opposition to this monstrosity," he said. "This fight isn't over."
See video below.
Sources: Associated Press and CNN
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Comments
For all of you who want Obamacare, consider the fact the per-capita income in the USA is far greater than in most other industrialized countries that have socialized health care. Govt run health care is expensive, taxes will increase significantly, and our standard of living will decline. Just look at the facts:
PER-CAPITA INCOMES 2008
Canada $39,200
France $33,300
Germany $35,500
Japan $34,100
UK $36,700
USA $47,500
Source: CIA World Factbook
Nothing is free. If we take a Socialist path, it will benefit some, but it will hurt the vast majority. The stats tossed around in this health care debate have been deceptive. The true number of people who want health care but can’t afford it is VERY small. We don’t need a massive govt-run system to provide benefits to a few million people. Obama and most of the Dems are dumb, arrogant, and I believe they are evil. They will get destroyed for pushing this crap down our throats.
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