This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8425284.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Obama hails health vote 'victory' | Obama hails health vote 'victory' |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has hailed the Senate's healthcare vote as a "big victory for the American people". | US President Barack Obama has hailed the Senate's healthcare vote as a "big victory for the American people". |
| Senators voted in the early hours of Monday to end debate on a compromise bill, putting the legislation on course to face a final vote on Christmas Eve. | Senators voted in the early hours of Monday to end debate on a compromise bill, putting the legislation on course to face a final vote on Christmas Eve. |
| President Obama has set health reform as a key plank of his first term. | President Obama has set health reform as a key plank of his first term. |
| The legislation, which aims to cover 31 million uninsured Americans, could lead to the biggest change in US healthcare in decades, if approved. | The legislation, which aims to cover 31 million uninsured Americans, could lead to the biggest change in US healthcare in decades, if approved. |
| "The United States Senate knocked down a filibuster aimed at blocking a final vote on healthcare reform and scored a big victory for the American people," Mr Obama said. | "The United States Senate knocked down a filibuster aimed at blocking a final vote on healthcare reform and scored a big victory for the American people," Mr Obama said. |
| Acrimonious debate | Acrimonious debate |
| SENATE HEALTH CARE BILL: NEXT STEPS Tuesday 22 December: vote to approve compromise proposal that would expand coverage to 94% of Americans and reduce the federal deficit by $130bn over 10 years (needs simple majority of 51)Tuesday 22 December: procedural vote on substitute agreement - a constitutional oddity, aimed at overcoming a rule that prevents the Senate from passing its own revenue-raising measures (60 votes needed)Wednesday 23 December: vote to approve substitute amendment (simple majority needed)Wednesday 23 December: procedural vote on the bill as a whole (60 votes needed)Thursday 24 December: vote on the final bill (simple majority needed)2010: Senate and House versions of the bill to be reconciled Reaction as bill advances Q&A: US healthcare reform | |
| He said the Senate showed it could "stand up to the special interests" and move the nation closer to a health insurance overhaul for the country as a whole. | He said the Senate showed it could "stand up to the special interests" and move the nation closer to a health insurance overhaul for the country as a whole. |
| He said the bill would reduce the deficit in the long term, countering Republican criticism that the legislation is too expensive. | He said the bill would reduce the deficit in the long term, countering Republican criticism that the legislation is too expensive. |
| After a long, often acrimonious debate Senators voted 60 to 40 along party lines to end debate on the bill at 0100 (0600 GMT) on Monday. | After a long, often acrimonious debate Senators voted 60 to 40 along party lines to end debate on the bill at 0100 (0600 GMT) on Monday. |
| Four further votes are scheduled this week on the issue before the final Senate vote on Christmas Eve. | Four further votes are scheduled this week on the issue before the final Senate vote on Christmas Eve. |
| Under the Senate bill, most Americans would have to have health insurance. | Under the Senate bill, most Americans would have to have health insurance. |
| Private insurers would be banned from refusing to provide insurance because applicants had pre-existing medical conditions. | Private insurers would be banned from refusing to provide insurance because applicants had pre-existing medical conditions. |
| If passed, the Senate bill would have to be reconciled with a more expansive one passed last month by the House of Representatives. | If passed, the Senate bill would have to be reconciled with a more expansive one passed last month by the House of Representatives. |
| Key differences in the House version include a government-run health insurance plan, or public option, and how to pay for the reform. | Key differences in the House version include a government-run health insurance plan, or public option, and how to pay for the reform. |