WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Democrats and the President score a major victory Saturday night for national health care. The narrowly got the votes to pass their own version of the bill in the House.
The hotly-contested debate went until almost midnight. But the Democratically supported public option was included in the bill. It proposes to spend a little more than a trillion dollars insuring 36-million Americans.
"This was not about party, but people. This was about making sure all Americans have access to health care," said Maryland Democrat Rep. Steny Hoyer.
The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government's mandates.
Republican Washington State Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers says there are other ways to give Americans health insurance.
"I think there is a better way. We need health care reform that's going to reduce the cost, lower premiums for families and small businesses. We need to pass medical liability reforms and address the waste fraud abuse in the current system."
Saturday night's vote was 220 to 215 with 39 Democrats voting against it and one Republican in favor. But it's not set in stone yet. the Senate still has to vote on their own version of the plan. If it doesn't pass, the bill is dead. If it does pass, the House and Senate will meet to decide a final version of the bill.
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