WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate health committee cast a milestone vote Wednesday to approve legislation expanding insurance coverage to nearly all Americans, becoming the first congressional panel to act on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
The 13-10 party line vote advanced a $600 billion measure that would require individuals to get health insurance and employers to contribute to the cost. The government would provide financial assistance with premiums for individuals and families making up to four times the federal poverty level, or about $88,000 for a family of four. The health committee legislation is but one piece of broader Senate legislation that's still under development.
"This time we've produced legislation that by and large I think the American people want," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who stood in for committee chairman Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Kennedy, who's made health care legislation a lifelong priority, is being treated for brain cancer.
But ranking Republican Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming argued that the bill would break Obama's promises by adding to the deficit.
Expand insurance coverage? fuck the insurance, we need health care
Scare tactics won't work this time. If we can give tax breaks to the riches people and raise the deficit we can help fund health care. We the tax payers pay 3/4 of all the insurance for the senators and reps. So lets be honest and tell how certain savings can help pay for health care for all. NO TRIGGERS!!!!!!!!
No public option = No fucking way
Americans are done with being afraid to go to the doctor or to the hospital, not for fear of some physical ailment, but for fear of crushing bills from the health insurance company for tests and treatments that people get for free in France.
If Americans realized how good the French system is they'd be demanding it en masse.
We need the names of the ten assholes who voted against this bill. Hold them accountable!
When did for-profit insurance corps become medical experts?
No more being told: "Just go to the ER"
Single-payer is STILL off the table
Please almighty government give me womb to tomb health care. While you're at it please give me a house, food, a job and if I don't want to work give me free money.
If you had to chose what tax would increase to pay for Health Care Reform?
A. Corporate Taxes
B. Wealthy Tax Payers
C. All tax payers
D. VAT National Sales Tax
E. Tax health care benefits
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=5751
.
If there's no public option then why are they even bothering to waste more tax dollars? The dems can tell the republicans that America wants single payer and they are going to get single payer. Pelosi and Reid are pathetic wimps. So is Obama. He has the option to force a simple majority but he chooses to cower to the insane republicans. Pelosi took impeachment off the table when bush was destroying our country and now with a clear majority they still can't muster the decency to do the job they were elected to do.
Poo4Liberty must be a young punk with no health issues yet, just wait m-fer, you'll be loving this medical later on
@Fukum
When I grow up I want to be just like you so I can attack people and call them names. Be careful, your intelligence is showing.
When medicine is treated like a science, and people take responsibility for their own nutritional healthcare (and high fructose corn syrup is labeled as more dangerous than marijuana or even heroin), we might have good healthcare. Bore that? It's all a shell game.