Democrats strike deal as health bill set to go through
House Democratic leaders had struck a last-minute deal with abortion foes to secure the final few votes to remake America’s healthcare system, writing a climactic chapter in a century-old quest for near universal coverage.
The House argued its way through a thicket of Republican objections toward an evening vote on the bill to extend coverage to 32 million Americans who lack it, ban insurers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and cut deficits by an estimated $138 billion (€102bn) over a decade.
Protesters outside the Capitol dramatised their opposition, and one man stood up in the visitor’s gallery shouting, “Kill the bill” before he was ushered out.
Passage of a central healthcare bill already cleared by the Senate would send it to Obama for his signature. That still would leave one more step, a companion package of changes would go to the Senate.
Obama lobbied by phone from the White House, then took the crucial step of issuing an executive order that satisfied a small group of Democrats who demanded that no federal funds be used for elective abortions. “We’re well past 216” votes, a majority, said Republican Bart Stupak of Michigan, swinging behind the bill after leading the holdouts in a rebellion that had left the outcome in doubt.
Democratic aides confirmed his vote count.
After more than a year of political combat – certain to persist into the autumn election campaign for control of Congress – debate on the House floor fell along predictable lines.
“The public has been grievously and purposely lied to” by Republicans in their efforts to defeat the legislation, said Louise Slaughter, D-NY, a clear reference to GOP accusations that included the claim there would be death panels for elderly patients.
Republicans opposed the measure as a takeover of government healthcare that would cut Medicare and raise taxes by nearly $1 trillion combined. David Dreier, R-Calif, criticised the Democrats for their tactics in the House, but “the greatest outrage has always been for the bill itself”.
Over and over, Democrats stressed the historic nature of the day.
“Healthcare isn’t only a civil right, it’s a moral issue,” said Patrick Kennedy, D-RI He said his late father, Senator Edward M Kennedy, had worked his entire career for nationwide healthcare, and President John F Kennedy before him.
Obama has said often that presidents of both parties have tried without success to achieve national health insurance, beginning with Theodore Roosevelt early in the 20th century.
Under the legislation, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused. Much of the money in the bill would be devoted to subsidies to help families at incomes of up to $88,000 a year pay their premiums.
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