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Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle Posted on 11/22/2009
Democrats united Saturday night to push historic health care legislation past a key Senate hurdle over the opposition of Republicans eager to inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama.
Vote 60-39 The 60-39 vote cleared the way for a bruising, full-scale debate beginning after Thanksgiving on the legislation, which is designed to extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny or dilute benefits and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally.
Sen. Reid Comments Prior to the vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, accused Republicans of trying to stifle a historic debate the nation needed.
Reid said, "Imagine if, instead of debating whether to abolish slavery, instead of debating whether giving women and minorities the right to vote, those who disagreed had muted discussion and killed any vote."
Sen. Reid said, "Today we [decide] whether to even discuss one of the greatest issues of our generation."
He said, "Whether this nation will finally guarantee its people the right to live free from fear of illness and death, which can be prevented by decent health care for all."
Sen. Harkin Comments Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA, said, "The Republicans are frightening people."
Harkin said, "Now is not the time to go wobbly in the knees. Now is the time to stand strong ... and move this country forward."
White House Response White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the president was gratified by the vote.
Gibbs said, "Tonight's historic vote brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health care costs, providing stability and security to those with health insurance and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it."
In long-awaited speeches, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-AR, and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA, said they would stand with their party and vote "yes" on the crucial test vote.
Sen. Lincoln Comments Sen. Lincoln said, "The truth is this issue is very complex. There is no easy fix and it's imperative that we build on what's already working in health care in America."
Sen. Landrieu Comments Sen. Landrieu said, "It is clear to me that doing nothing is not an option."
Landrieu said, "I've decided that there are enough significant reforms and safeguards in this bill to move forward, but much more work needs to be done."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, needed 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to go forward on his 2,074-page bill to overhaul the nation's health care system.
Sen. Nelson Comments A third centrist, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-NE, announced Friday that he'd be supporting his party on the test vote.
But Nelson said that it didn't mean he'd be with them on the final vote.
Sen. Nelson said, "It is not for or against the new Senate health care bill."
Nelson said, "It is only to begin debate and an opportunity to make improvements. If you don't like a bill, why block your own opportunity to amend it?"
Democrats said their legislation could make historic and necessary improvements in the country's social safety net.
Sen. Dorgan Comments Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-ND, said, "Prices of health care are marching relentlessly upwards, and so too many people don't have coverage."
Dorgan said, "The purpose of all of this is to try to get a handle on it somehow."
White House Statement The White House issued a statement late Friday praising the Senate measure.
The statement said, "This bill provides the necessary health reforms that the administration seeks - affordable, quality care within reach for the tens of millions of Americans who do not have it today, and stability and security for the hundreds of millions who do."
