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| US Senate passes key health bill | US Senate passes key health bill |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| US senators have passed the final Senate version of a historic healthcare reform bill. | US senators have passed the final Senate version of a historic healthcare reform bill. |
| The bill aims to cover 31m uninsured Americans and could lead to the biggest change in US healthcare in decades. | The bill aims to cover 31m uninsured Americans and could lead to the biggest change in US healthcare in decades. |
| The bill's passage is a major boost to President Barack Obama, who has made reform a priority. He rejects claims that compromise has left it weakened. | The bill's passage is a major boost to President Barack Obama, who has made reform a priority. He rejects claims that compromise has left it weakened. |
| However, it must still be reconciled with more expansive legislation passed by the House of Representatives. | However, it must still be reconciled with more expansive legislation passed by the House of Representatives. |
| The Senate bill was adopted by 60 votes to 39, with senators voting along party lines. | The Senate bill was adopted by 60 votes to 39, with senators voting along party lines. |
| BILLS: KEY DIFFERENCES Public option: House yes, Senate noAbortion: House bill has stricter restrictions on federal fundingHow to pay for reform: House relies heavily on income tax increase for high-earning Americans; Senate bill taxes high-cost health insurance plans Healthcare bills compared class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7370">Send us your comments | |
| Fifty-eight Democrats and two independents backed the legislation, while Republicans voted unanimously against it. | Fifty-eight Democrats and two independents backed the legislation, while Republicans voted unanimously against it. |
| Speaking before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said: "This morning isn't the end of the process, it's merely the beginning. | Speaking before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said: "This morning isn't the end of the process, it's merely the beginning. |
| "We'll continue to build on this success to improve our health system even more. | "We'll continue to build on this success to improve our health system even more. |
| "But that process cannot begin unless we start today... There may not be a next time." | "But that process cannot begin unless we start today... There may not be a next time." |
| The bill's passage follows months of political wrangling and 24 days of debate in the Senate chamber. | The bill's passage follows months of political wrangling and 24 days of debate in the Senate chamber. |
| Opposition Republicans say it is expensive, authoritarian and a threat to civil liberties. | Opposition Republicans say it is expensive, authoritarian and a threat to civil liberties. |
| Healthcare reform has been the key domestic policy of Mr Obama's administration but finalising the details of the proposed bills has been a lengthy and complex process. | Healthcare reform has been the key domestic policy of Mr Obama's administration but finalising the details of the proposed bills has been a lengthy and complex process. |
| Q&A: US healthcare reform US and Europe compared | Q&A: US healthcare reform US and Europe compared |
| On Wednesday, the bill passed the last of three procedural votes in the Senate, with Democrats collecting the 60 votes needed to bring an end to Republican delaying tactics and vote on the final bill. | On Wednesday, the bill passed the last of three procedural votes in the Senate, with Democrats collecting the 60 votes needed to bring an end to Republican delaying tactics and vote on the final bill. |
| The process of reconciling the Senate's legislation with the House bill is expected to begin in mid-January. | The process of reconciling the Senate's legislation with the House bill is expected to begin in mid-January. |
| 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. |
| The House version still includes a public option and also differs on how to pay for the reform. | The House version still includes a public option and also differs on how to pay for the reform. |