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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| US health reform set for new vote | US health reform set for new vote |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A package of amendments to the landmark healthcare reform law must go back to the US House of Representatives after Republican objections were upheld. | A package of amendments to the landmark healthcare reform law must go back to the US House of Representatives after Republican objections were upheld. |
| The Senate voted for the package by 56-43. It sets out a series of fixes to the main bill, which President Obama has already signed into law. | |
| Two points, which Democrats say are minor, have been deleted and the bill now returns to the House for approval. | |
| The changes would then be sent to President Obama for his signature. | |
| "This has been a legislative fight that will be in the record books," Senate leader Harry Reid said before the final vote. | |
| The healthcare reform 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. | 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. | 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. |
| SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN Provides Senators and their staff with confidential and non-partisan expert advice about rules and proceduresAdvice is non-binding and can be rejected by the SenateSits immediately below the Presiding Officer on the rostrumRefers bills to appropriate committees on behalf of the Senate's Presiding OfficerCurrently has four assistants Democrats threatened over bill Track Obama's ratings | SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN Provides Senators and their staff with confidential and non-partisan expert advice about rules and proceduresAdvice is non-binding and can be rejected by the SenateSits immediately below the Presiding Officer on the rostrumRefers bills to appropriate committees on behalf of the Senate's Presiding OfficerCurrently has four assistants Democrats threatened over bill Track Obama's ratings |
| Jim Manley, spokesman for 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 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Obama thanks Iowa for health reform | |
| 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. |
| In Iowa on Thursday, he dared Republicans to try to repeal the new law ahead of November's mid-term elections, saying: "Go for it." | |
| Some supporters of the bill had received threats and abusive messages, prompting them to call police and the FBI. | 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". | 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". |