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| Obama says health vote 'historic' | Obama says health vote 'historic' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has hailed as "historic" the approval of a health bill by the House of Representatives. | US President Barack Obama has hailed as "historic" the approval of a health bill by the House of Representatives. |
| He said he was "absolutely confident" the Senate would pass its own version, and that healthcare reforms would become law by the end of the year. | He said he was "absolutely confident" the Senate would pass its own version, and that healthcare reforms would become law by the end of the year. |
| Passed in a narrow 220-215 vote by the House, the bill aims to extend coverage to 36 million more Americans and provide affordable healthcare to 96%. | Passed in a narrow 220-215 vote by the House, the bill aims to extend coverage to 36 million more Americans and provide affordable healthcare to 96%. |
| Mr Obama has made healthcare reform a central plank of his domestic agenda. | Mr Obama has made healthcare reform a central plank of his domestic agenda. |
| Correspondents say the legislation could lead to the biggest changes in American healthcare in decades. | Correspondents say the legislation could lead to the biggest changes in American healthcare in decades. |
| Tight numbers | |
| Democratic Senators must now consider their own bill. They need 60 out of 100 votes to bring it to a final vote. | |
| I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year Barack Obama | |
| There are only 57 Democrats and two independents in the Senate. Two Republicans have signalled they could approve a compromise health bill. | |
| If it is passed, lawmakers from both houses will try to reconcile the two versions before the programme can be signed into law by the president. | |
| In Saturday's vote, the bill was supported by 219 Democrats and one Republican - Joseph Cao from New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats. | In Saturday's vote, the bill was supported by 219 Democrats and one Republican - Joseph Cao from New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats. |
| Mr Obama said: "Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable healthcare for the American people. | Mr Obama said: "Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable healthcare for the American people. |
| "The United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year." | "The United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year." |
| Abortion amendment | |
| The debate had sparked strong emotions on both sides. | The debate had sparked strong emotions on both sides. |
| Democratic Party representative John Dingell said: "[The bill] offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable healthcare when they need it." | Democratic Party representative John Dingell said: "[The bill] offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable healthcare when they need it." |
| KEY BILL PROVISIONS Aims to provide affordable healthcare to 96% to redress 2008 figure of 47 million uninsuredIndividuals must obtain coverage and most firms must provide it to workersCreates an insurance market for purchase of coverageOne product will be a government health insurance planPeople with pre-existing health problems cannot be denied insuranceFunded by raft of measures, including 5.4% surtax on those earning $500,000 a year or moreThose who earn up to 150% of poverty level to qualify for Medicaid government programme for the poorInsurers must justify increases in premiums class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8160058.stm">Q&A: US healthcare reform class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7208&edition=2">Send us your views on reforms | |
| But Republican representative Candice Miller said: "We are going to have a complete government takeover of our healthcare system faster than you can say 'this is making me sick'." | |
| Before the vote, Mr Obama had made a rare visit to Congress to try to persuade wavering members of his own Democratic Party to back the bill. | Before the vote, Mr Obama had made a rare visit to Congress to try to persuade wavering members of his own Democratic Party to back the bill. |
| He said such opportunities came around "maybe once in a generation". | He said such opportunities came around "maybe once in a generation". |
| After the vote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "I thank the president for his tremendous leadership, because without President Obama in the White House, this victory would not have been possible." | After the vote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "I thank the president for his tremendous leadership, because without President Obama in the White House, this victory would not have been possible." |
| The bill will allow the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies and make insurers offer cover to those with pre-existing conditions. | The bill will allow the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies and make insurers offer cover to those with pre-existing conditions. |
| However, the government-run healthcare programme - the so-called "public option" - was scaled back in the run-up to the vote. | However, the government-run healthcare programme - the so-called "public option" - was scaled back in the run-up to the vote. |
| One key concession to get the bill through was to anti-abortion legislators. | One key concession to get the bill through was to anti-abortion legislators. |
| An amendment was passed that prohibits coverage for abortion in the government-run programme except for rape, incest or if the mother's life is threatened. Private plans can still offer the cover. | An amendment was passed that prohibits coverage for abortion in the government-run programme except for rape, incest or if the mother's life is threatened. Private plans can still offer the cover. |
| Democrat Bart Stupak, who sponsored the amendment, said: "Let us stand together on principle - no public funding for abortions." | Democrat Bart Stupak, who sponsored the amendment, said: "Let us stand together on principle - no public funding for abortions." |
| Abortion rights supporters said the amendment was the biggest setback to their cause in decades. | Abortion rights supporters said the amendment was the biggest setback to their cause in decades. |
| The Senate debate on healthcare reform is expected in the coming days. | The Senate debate on healthcare reform is expected in the coming days. |
| Senate majority leader Harry Reid said after the House vote: "We realise the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energised that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system." | Senate majority leader Harry Reid said after the House vote: "We realise the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energised that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system." |