President Obama and Dems FINALLY Kick Some republicunt Ass!

Reconciliation Package/"Fixes" passes 220-211. Goes back to Senate. Senators need to keep agreement to accept fixes. No public option.

House Passes Historic Health Care Reform Bill

House sends health care bill to Obama's desk
President to sign reforms into law; "fixes" still require Senate action

BREAKING
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated less than 1 minute ago
WASHINGTON - After well over a year of negotiations, setbacks, and political wrangling, the House has approved President Barack Obama’s top domestic policy initiative, sending a bill to massively overhaul the nation’s health insurance system to his desk to be signed and enacted into law.

The climactic chapter in a century-long quest for near universal coverage concludes with the House's approval of a 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 over a decade.

Republicans voted unanimously against the bill, which they say constitutes a government takeover of the health care system, financed by a trillion dollars in higher taxes and Medicare cuts combined.

UPDATED AT MSNBC:

WASHINGTON - Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.

Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote. Republicans were unanimous in opposition, joined by 34 dissident Democrats. Obama watched the vote in the White House's Roosevelt Room with Vice President Joe Biden and about 40 staff aides. When the long sought 216th vote came in — the magic number needed for passage — the room burst into applause and hugs. An exultant president exchanged a high-five with his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

A second, smaller measure — making changes in the first — also passed later in the evening. It will go to the Senate, where Democratic leaders said they had the votes to pass it. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the legislation awaiting the president's approval would 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 over a decade. If realized, the expansion of coverage would include 95 percent of all eligible individuals under age 65.

For the first time, 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.

AP:

updated 3 minutes ago
AP Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.

Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote, with Republicans unanimous in opposition.

Congressional officials said they expected Obama to sign the bill as early as Tuesday.

A second measure — making changes in the first — was lined up for passage later in the evening. It would then go to the Senate, where Democratic leaders said they had the votes to pass it.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35961584/ns/politics-health...

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"Many are now speculating that the Republican MTR this evening will be a motion that offers the anti-abortion amendment from Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), the onetime leader of the key bloc of holdout votes. The Stupak amendment received support from 64 Democrats when the House first voted on it in November."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/03/what-time-i...

Republicans tried to embarrass anti-abortion Democrats with reintroduction of Stupak Amendment. Motion to Recommit (MTR) failed, vote moved to the "fixes."

Stupak argued against Republican's motion strategy - said motion is not a "pro-life" motion, but a motion against health care reform. STUPAK: "For the unborn child, his mother will now be able to have pre-natal care... Vote NO on this motion to recommit."

Motion to recommit failed.

MSNBC reporting GOP House member yelled "baby-killer" at Stupak while Stupak was speaking.