House Representatives Vote Yes on Health Care Reform Bill

Saturday night, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3962, also known as the affordable Health Care for America, by a vote of 220 to 215. With the passage of this bill, representatives to the giant step toward Health Care reform, the bill will now make it's way to the Senate.

The bill only needed 218 votes to pass and at first it seemed as if there would not be enough votes, but in the end, 219 Democrats voted with the legislation while all but one Republican voted against it.

The healthcare bill contained many sweeping provisions including an insurance market exchange, a new government Health Insurance program that would be sold to this exchange, the formation of a nonprofit Health Care that was cell coverage via the exchange, prevents insurers from excluding people due to preexisting conditions or from charging higher fees based on the person's medical history, then creates a temporary high risk program provide medical coverage to those who are uninsured. These uninsured include people with preexisting conditions that have been previously denied coverage. This program would be available until the exchange is approved.

The head of the Republican National Committee expressed his disappointment in the passage of the bill stating," Today with the help from their Liberal House Allies, president Obama and Nancy Pelosi finally got what they have been creating behind closed doors these past months - a government -run healthcare experiment that will increase family's Health Care costs, increase the deficit, increased taxes on small businesses and other middle class, and cut Medicare. As the elections in Virginia and New Jersey clearly showed, the American people oppose bigger government, more federal spending, and higher taxes. " the statement said.

The House also voted to tighten a ban against using Federal funds to finance a portion under the bill. The anti-abortion amendment bans government funds from covering abortions except in the case of rape, incest, or a situation in which the life of the mother is in danger.

This anti-abortion amendment was opposed by liberal democrats who favor abortion rights. However the passage of the moment helped win support for the legislation by moderate democrats. Without this amendment, these moderate democrats might never have support the bill.

Now, the Health Care for America reform bill will have to be passed by the senate.

House Bill H.R. 3962

RNC STATEMENT ON PELOSI HEALTH CARE BILL PASSAGE