Health care bill clears last hurdle before passage

[Cali_Democrat]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091223/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer Erica Werner, Associated Press Writer – 5 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Exultant Senate Democrats pushed President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul past a final procedural hurdle Wednesday, setting up a Christmas Eve vote to pass the legislation extending coverage to 30 million Americans.

<snip>

The sweeping legislation, crafted over months of laborious negotiations, would dramatically remake the country's health care system with new requirements for nearly everyone to purchase insurance. The government would provide subsidies to help lower-income people pay for coverage. Unpopular insurance company practices such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions would be banned.

Powerless to stop the bill, Republicans stepped up their attacks, contending the sweeping bill threatened to harm Medicare and add billions to the deficit.

"Tomorrow the Senate will vote on a bill that makes a bad situation worse," Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said on the Senate floor. "This bill slid rapidly down the slippery slope to more and more government control of health care."

Read more at link.

This is excellent news!! A step in the right direction toward real health care reform.

[Cha]

1. Fuckin' charles grassley and jane hamsher..

two little peas on the opposite end of the pod.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Yep. n/t

[ShortnFiery]

3. ...

:puke:

[Cali_Democrat]

4. 30 million more Americans will have coverage because of this bill

Also, companies can no longer prevent people with preexisting conditions from getting coverage. What do you suggest, killing the bill and keeping the status quo? That is completely unacceptable IMO.

You know damn well that we wouldn't have enough senate votes for universal coverage which is what we all want. However, I think this bill is a good first step.

[Kind of Blue]

5. +1

:thumbsup: Forgive that puke 'cus they need time for it to sink in. States of Mourning are a terrible place to be and we all come out of it at different rates.

[thereismore]

6. I decided I am for this bill. 40 Republicans can't all be right! nt

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Amen brother!!

:toast: