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New House vote on US health bill | New House vote on US health bill |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The landmark US healthcare reform bill must be sent back to the House of Representatives for approval after two issues were raised by Republicans. | The landmark US healthcare reform bill must be sent back to the House of Representatives for approval after two issues were raised by Republicans. |
During an all-night voting session, two points relating to student loans were found to violate Senate procedure, said an aide to the Senate majority leader. | During an all-night voting session, two points relating to student loans were found to violate Senate procedure, said an aide to the Senate majority leader. |
They were described as "relatively minor provisions". | They were described as "relatively minor provisions". |
They will have to be deleted, approved by the Senate and then sent back to the House for approval. | They will have to be deleted, approved by the Senate and then sent back to the House for approval. |
The bill was passed in the House of Representatives by 219 votes to 212 on Sunday, with no Republican backing. | The bill was passed in the House of Representatives by 219 votes to 212 on Sunday, with no Republican backing. |
It extends coverage to 32 million more Americans, and marks the biggest change to the US healthcare system in decades. | It extends coverage to 32 million more Americans, and marks the biggest change to the US healthcare system in decades. |
As part of the package, on Sunday the House also approved a separate set of amendments. | As part of the package, on Sunday the House also approved a separate set of amendments. |
That package returned to the Senate for a vote, under a process known as budget reconciliation, where amendments have to relate to budgetary rather than policy issues. | |
On Wednesday, Senate Republicans submitted 30 amendments - which were all rejected by Democrats during the marathon overnight voting session. | |
Democrats 'confident' | Democrats 'confident' |
However, Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin upheld two Republican challenges on points of order under budget reconciliation rules, Senate Democratic aides said. | However, Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin upheld two Republican challenges on points of order under budget reconciliation rules, Senate Democratic aides said. |
Jim Manley, spokesman for the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said: "After hours of trying to find a way to block this, they (Republicans) found two relatively minor provisions that are violations of Senate procedure which means we're going to have to send it back to the House." | Jim Manley, spokesman for the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said: "After hours of trying to find a way to block this, they (Republicans) found two relatively minor provisions that are violations of Senate procedure which means we're going to have to send it back to the House." |
He added that he was "confident that the House will be able to deal with these and pass the legislation". | He added that he was "confident that the House will be able to deal with these and pass the legislation". |
Mr Manley said 16 lines will be deleted from the bill, but any change required another House vote. | |
One of the changes was technical, and the other involved a provision to prevent reductions in the federal Pell Grant student aid programme, Associated Press reported. | |
President Barack Obama signed the healthcare bill into law without delay after the House vote, as he did not need to wait for the Senate vote on the reconciliation bill. | President Barack Obama signed the healthcare bill into law without delay after the House vote, as he did not need to wait for the Senate vote on the reconciliation bill. |
He is due to travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday to promote the benefits of the health care reform. | |
Some supporters of the bill had received threats and abusive messages, prompting them to call police and the FBI. | |
Democratic House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said more than 10 Democratic politicians had reported incidents since Sunday's vote, some of which he described as "very serious". |