House Nears Final, Historic Votes On Healthcare Reform

(Washington, DC) -- The U.S. House is nearing final, historic votes on sweeping healthcare reforms. The landmark legislation aims to expand healthcare to more than 30-million Americans at a cost of $940-billion over ten years. The legislation also goes after abusive practices of the health insurance industry, including denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Its also projected to reduce the federal deficit by $138-billion over a decade. Republicans challenge those budget assumptions, calling the Democratic legislation deeply flawed, overly complicated and too expensive. Democrats call it a long-overdue overhaul of the nations complex and costly healthcare system. They need 216 votes for passage and every vote has been counted and recounted in a long process of sometimes heated backroom deliberations. That path was cleared when Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak announced he will support the legislation. Stupak and several anti-abortion Democrats threatened to block passage. Under a deal struck with the White House, President Obama will issue an executive order reaffirming a longstanding ban on the use of federal funds for abortion. As the House deliberated, conservative "Tea Party" activists continued protesting outside the Capitol. Many shouted, "Kill the bill!" On Saturday, some protesters shouted the "N" word at black lawmakers, spat on at least one and hurled anti-gay slurs at Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Barney Frank. Those actions were condemned by Republican and Democratic congressional leaders alike. House Republicans threw parliamentary challenges at the Democratic legislation. Wisconsin Republican Congressman Paul Ryan called it the "mother of all unfunded mandates." Republicans argue that the Democratic legislation is the first step in a government takeover of the U.S. healthcare system. They claim it will raise taxes and reduce the quality of healthcare. Health insurance reform has been President Obamas top legislative priority. The President and congressional Democratic leaders have put enormous political capital on the outcome of this single issue. The House is expected to pass legislation the Senate approved late last year, followed by passage of a series of so-called "fixes." The Senate is expected to start considering the "fixes" this coming week. Republicans plan to make every parliamentary effort to stop the legislation from becoming law. If it does become law, Republicans plan immediate legal challenges.