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RateHouse passes health reform bill; Murphy votes with opposition
By David Espo
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.
The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
New York’s 20th Congressional District Representative Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, was among only 39 Democrats to vote against the historic bill.
A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later.
“It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it,” said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955.
In the run-up to a final vote, conservatives from the two political parties joined forces to impose tough new restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies to be sold to many individuals and small groups. They prevailed on a roll call of 240-194.
Ironically, that only solidified support for the legislation, clearing the way for conservative Democrats to vote for it.
The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees. Both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government’s mandates.
Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions would be banned, and insurers would no longer be able to charge higher premiums on the basis of gender or medical history. In a further slap, the industry would lose its exemption from federal antitrust restrictions on price gouging, bid rigging and market allocation.
A cheer went up from the Democratic side of the House when the bill gained 218 votes, a majority. Moments later, Democrats counted down the final seconds of the voting period in unison, and and let loose an even louder roar when Pelosi grabbed the gavel and declared, “the bill is passed.’
From the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada issued a statement saying, “We realize the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energized that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system.”
The bill drew the votes of 219 Democrats and Rep. Joseph Cao, a first-term Republican who holds an overwhelmingly Democratic seat in New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats.
Nearly unanimous in their opposition, minority Republicans cataloged their objections across hours of debate on the 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion legislation.
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers staff reporter Colin DeVries contributed to this report.
The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress.
New York’s 20th Congressional District Representative Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, was among only 39 Democrats to vote against the historic bill.
A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later.
“It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it,” said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955.
In the run-up to a final vote, conservatives from the two political parties joined forces to impose tough new restrictions on abortion coverage in insurance policies to be sold to many individuals and small groups. They prevailed on a roll call of 240-194.
Ironically, that only solidified support for the legislation, clearing the way for conservative Democrats to vote for it.
The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees. Both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government’s mandates.
Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions would be banned, and insurers would no longer be able to charge higher premiums on the basis of gender or medical history. In a further slap, the industry would lose its exemption from federal antitrust restrictions on price gouging, bid rigging and market allocation.
A cheer went up from the Democratic side of the House when the bill gained 218 votes, a majority. Moments later, Democrats counted down the final seconds of the voting period in unison, and and let loose an even louder roar when Pelosi grabbed the gavel and declared, “the bill is passed.’
From the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada issued a statement saying, “We realize the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energized that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system.”
The bill drew the votes of 219 Democrats and Rep. Joseph Cao, a first-term Republican who holds an overwhelmingly Democratic seat in New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats.
Nearly unanimous in their opposition, minority Republicans cataloged their objections across hours of debate on the 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion legislation.
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers staff reporter Colin DeVries contributed to this report.
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chubby wrote on Nov 8, 2009 9:45 AM:
" I work for a small company. The owner is taking our medical insurance coverage away if this bill passes the senate and President Obama signs it. The owner of the company says his taxes are going up. He said the government can insure us so he is not paying twice. Thanks democrats for taking away my medical insurance that works just fine for me. I swear I will never vote for a democrat even if his opponent is the devil himself. This is the beginning of the end for capitalism. "
highfalls1 wrote on Nov 8, 2009 4:30 PM:
" and how is murphy going to explain to us he wants to be re-elected? "
patrick wrote on Nov 8, 2009 8:21 PM:
" Yeah! Tell 'em Chubby! By the way did you know that being fat (overweight, Chubby) is a pre-existing condition. So your insurer doesn't even want to cover your diabetes, etc.
It never ceases to amaze me that the idiots who need universal health care the most fight it the hardest.
And of course your small company business owner buddy wouldn't use the excuse of the private insurance company raising his rates three fold for knocking you off.
I'm a wealthy guy, why do I worry about stupid, self-obsessed slobs like you Chubby? I must be losing my mind from all the Congressmen idiots like Scott Murphy who have no balls whatsoever and are so scared of standing up for idiots like you that they vote against a flawed bill and then deliver that sing-song rationale that it 'wasn't good enough.' He Scott, you just demonstrated that you're not good enough. Any Democrat with a brain wants to run against this jerk, who misrepresented himself so far as I'm concerned, has my vote. "
It never ceases to amaze me that the idiots who need universal health care the most fight it the hardest.
And of course your small company business owner buddy wouldn't use the excuse of the private insurance company raising his rates three fold for knocking you off.
I'm a wealthy guy, why do I worry about stupid, self-obsessed slobs like you Chubby? I must be losing my mind from all the Congressmen idiots like Scott Murphy who have no balls whatsoever and are so scared of standing up for idiots like you that they vote against a flawed bill and then deliver that sing-song rationale that it 'wasn't good enough.' He Scott, you just demonstrated that you're not good enough. Any Democrat with a brain wants to run against this jerk, who misrepresented himself so far as I'm concerned, has my vote. "
Joe The Real wrote on Nov 8, 2009 8:46 PM:
" Back in the 40s we'd call a "Murphy Man" a con artist who represented themselves as a lawyer working for a client when they'd taken a pay off from the opposition. I feel like that's what I voted for with this "Murphy." Not the next time. I'm with you riverhouse222 "
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riverhouse222 wrote on Nov 8, 2009 7:32 AM:
Murphy who? "