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| Health bill clears Senate hurdle | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama's main domestic priority, healthcare reform, has cleared a key hurdle in the US Senate. | President Barack Obama's main domestic priority, healthcare reform, has cleared a key hurdle in the US Senate. |
| Senators voted 60 to 40 along party lines to end debate on a compromise bill, putting the legislation on course to face a final vote on Christmas Eve. | Senators voted 60 to 40 along party lines to end debate on a compromise bill, putting the legislation on course to face a final vote on Christmas Eve. |
| The final Senate bill will then have to be reconciled with a more expansive one passed by the House of Representatives. | The final Senate bill will then have to be reconciled with a more expansive one passed by the House of Representatives. |
| The reform measure aims to extend health coverage to more than 30m people who currently lack health insurance. | The reform measure aims to extend health coverage to more than 30m people who currently lack health insurance. |
| The long, often acrimonious, debate culminated in a procedural vote at 0100 (0600GMT) on Monday, when the Democratic caucus voted unanimously to overcome delaying tactics by the Republicans. | The long, often acrimonious, debate culminated in a procedural vote at 0100 (0600GMT) on Monday, when the Democratic caucus voted unanimously to overcome delaying tactics by the Republicans. |
| This legislation will reshape our nation. And Americans have already issued their verdict. They don't want it Mitch McConnellSenate Minority Leader Q&A: US healthcare reform | |
| The Democrats had been confident after Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, who had been holding out for further changes, on Saturday agreed to a compromise and announced he would back the bill. | The Democrats had been confident after Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, who had been holding out for further changes, on Saturday agreed to a compromise and announced he would back the bill. |
| Sixty votes are needed to bypass a lengthy debate, or filibuster. The Democrats control exactly 60, so every vote counts. | Sixty votes are needed to bypass a lengthy debate, or filibuster. The Democrats control exactly 60, so every vote counts. |
| "We'll get this passed before Christmas and it will be one of the best Christmas presents this Congress has ever given the American people," said Democratic Senator Tom Harkin. | "We'll get this passed before Christmas and it will be one of the best Christmas presents this Congress has ever given the American people," said Democratic Senator Tom Harkin. |
| Republicans have argued that the legislation is flawed. | Republicans have argued that the legislation is flawed. |
| "Mark my words, this legislation will reshape our nation. And Americans have already issued their verdict. They don't want it," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. | "Mark my words, this legislation will reshape our nation. And Americans have already issued their verdict. They don't want it," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. |
| Three further votes are scheduled this week on the issue. | Three further votes are scheduled this week on the issue. |
| Differences | Differences |
| President Obama has set health reform as a key plank of his first term and wants the Senate to pass the bill by the end of the year. | President Obama has set health reform as a key plank of his first term and wants the Senate to pass the bill by the end of the year. |
| The legislation - designed to secure coverage for millions of uninsured Americans - could lead to the biggest changes in US healthcare in decades, if approved. | The legislation - designed to secure coverage for millions of uninsured Americans - could lead to the biggest changes in US healthcare in decades, if approved. |
| Under the Senate bill, most Americans would have to have health insurance, while private insurers would be banned from refusing to provide insurance because applicants had pre-existing medical conditions. | Under the Senate bill, most Americans would have to have health insurance, while private insurers would be banned from refusing to provide insurance because applicants had pre-existing medical conditions. |
| Insurance would be made more affordable with subsidies available to help those in lower income bands, the Democrats say. | Insurance would be made more affordable with subsidies available to help those in lower income bands, the Democrats say. |
| People would also have access to new insurance market places. | People would also have access to new insurance market places. |
| The Senate bill must be reconciled with the legislation passed by the House before President Obama can sign it into law. | The Senate bill must be reconciled with the legislation passed by the House before President Obama can sign it into law. |
| There are, however, key differences. | There are, however, key differences. |
| The House version still includes a government-run health insurance plan, or public option, that was removed from the Senate version. | The House version still includes a government-run health insurance plan, or public option, that was removed from the Senate version. |
| There are also differences over how to pay for the reform. | There are also differences over how to pay for the reform. |