Senate Passes Health Care Reform

It was anti climactic, but it came this morning, nonetheless. The vote was 60-39.

The Senate passed a health insurance overhaul on Thursday morning, 60-39, as both Democrats and Republicans held unified in their positions on the massive bill that mandates coverage for about 9 percent of the U.S. population now without insurance.

All 58 Democrats and two independents supported the $871 billion, 10-year package that aims to cover about 30 million Americans. Thirty-nine of 40 Republicans rejected the bill.

Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning, who is retiring at the end of this Congress, did not vote.
President Obama congratulated the Senate for its early morning action.

The fight now moves to the conference committee where there are still plenty of battles looming. Bart Stupak was on Greta last night. He says he's being pressured by the White House to soften his stance. Stupak wants very stiff anti abortion language in the final bill and claims to have 40 plus anti abortion Dems ready to vote with him.

The public option will also be a bone of contention. I urge everyone to contact their rep over the break and let them know how you feel.