Breaking News: Senate passes health bill

Note: There's a lot of chatter in this vid, but I wanted you all to know that this bill was slipped through on Christmas Eve.

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history.

The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."

The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage. The Senate's bill must still be merged with legislation passed by the House before Obama could sign a final bill in the new year. There are significant differences between the two measures but Democrats say they've come too far now to fail.

Both bills would extend health insurance to more than 30 million more Americans. It was the Senate's first Christmas Eve vote since 1895, when the matter at hand was a military affairs bill concerning employment of former Confederate officers, according to the Senate Historical Office.

The House passed its own measure in November. The White House and Congress have now come further toward the goal of a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's health care system than any of their predecessors.

The legislation would ban the insurance industry from denying benefits or charging higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. The Congressional Budget Office predicts the bill will reduce deficits by $130 billion over the next 10 years, an estimate that assumes lawmakers carry through on hundreds of billions of dollars in planned cuts to insurance companies and doctors, hospitals and others who treat Medicare patients.

For the first time, the government would require nearly every American to carry insurance, and subsidies would be provided to help low-income people to do so. Employers would be induced to cover their employees through a combination of tax credits and penalties. The legislation costs nearly $1 trillion over 10 years and is paid for by a combination of taxes, fees and cuts to Medicare.

Copyright MSNBC 2009

Senate passes historic health care bill reform legislation

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[Samax13]

there is also a marriage tax, for 20% of the combined spouses income. gay as fuck. married couples raise a much better generation than a single parent. thats bullshit.

[fal2grace]

@Samax13 thanks for the info on that.

[mlong5151]

so thats why i coulnt find my wallet this morning

[fal2grace]

:) have a great holiday.

[gybemm]

Yes it is not perfect but .. I see it every day as a family physician of a community health center , People are dying! , loosing all they got just to pay their medical bills...i want freedom too..freedom to move on with your life and not lose your possesions due to disease or a medical bill A '' libertarian'' nurse worked with us,it took little time to realize ''something'' must be done..If you oppose thisl..go around and see it for yourself ..you will change your mind!

God Blees Everyone

[fal2grace]

Thank you very much for commenting.

[kwameaj]

They needed to, because people are dying everyday because of lack of healthcare, and Republicans are bent on blocking any reform.

[joeslick65]

This will be the biggest cluster f@#K in US history!

[iandownward100]

Americans are fucking stupid!!! I hope when you're broke on your death bed you still agree in not having free healthcare!

You have a space programme that does fuck all and don't want to have free healthcare?? you say the british NHS is proof that it doesn't work, but don't live here, believe me it DOES work, everyone in this country doesn't have to worry about breaking their arm or whatever because they no we will not find a 5000 pound bill coming through our door.... you're all fucking nuts!

[13rokenknightascar]

@temptationofmemories The REASON people are against it is because our "loving and caring" government forced it down our throats, first off.  And there are so many things that don't even relate to healthcare in the bill. Ie: the government now controls student loans! That's right, the banks don't control them any more, the government does! Why was that even in the bill! But I'm just a republican...so what do I know...

[maciindrew]

Congratulations America!

It makes me so happy that, after 100 years, we can finally catch up with the rest of the world!

[Samax13]

@fal2grace no prob they should hav a divorce tax for divorce within 10 years, unless one spouse is blatantly abusive

[indieruless]

@IchiroKeisuke chinese people don't make up over half of America's population

[temptationofmemories]

but hey what's 30 million lives if it means you just might have to give something to someone else for a change by the gods you can't possibly stand that right. Well I live in Australia and we have health care here and all of us manage just fine thank you without all of the nonsense people against the bill carry on with.

[temptationofmemories]

Oh my god you people are rediculous crying and bitching about health care reform. Seriously Health care is a basic human right which every person no matter their colour, race or religion deserve and you're country is the ONLY western society in the world who doesn't offer it to every one of their citizen's. Notice everry other one does and they all run perfectly fine and stable enough you people bitching about health care are just worried about money in your own pocket.

[hatethestupidnames]

unconstitutional to give people health insurance?

how come the rest of the world is doing just fine with a public option?

Do you know hawaii has public insurance option for about 25 years? let me tell you. it works just fine