Nov 07 2009
Health care passes House
The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) has passed the House of Representatives. Final vote was 220 to 215 (219 Democrats and 1 Republican in favor, 39 Democrats and 176 Republicans opposed).
The only Republican to vote in favor of health care for Americans was Representative Joseph Cao of Louisiana.
39 Democrats and 176 Republicans have a lot of explaining to do.
It has been a long day and night. More tomorrow. Goodnight.
Statement of President Barack Obama on House Passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act
Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality affordable options for those who don’t; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses, and the government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare. And it is legislation that is fully paid for and will reduce our long-term federal deficit.
Thanks to the hard work of the House, we are just two steps away from achieving health insurance reform in America. Now the United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.
UPDATE:
Here are the 39 Democrats who voted against health care for Americans. If your representative is on this list, you probably should get on the phone to him or her and demand a very good explanation.
* Jason Altmire (PA)
John Adler (NJ)
Rick Boucher (VA)
Allen Boyd (FL)
Brian Baird (WA)
* John Barrow (GA)
* Dan Boren (OK)
* John Boccieri (OH)
* Bobby Bright (AL)
* Ben Chandler (KY)
* Travis Childers (MS)
* Lincoln Davis (TN)
* Artur Davis (AL)
Chet Edwards (TX)
* Bart Gordon (TN)
* Parker Griffith (AL)
* Tim Holden (PA)
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD)
Dennis J. Kucinich (OH)
Larry Kissell (NC)
Suzanne Kosmas (FL)
Frank Kratovil Jr. (MD)
* Mike McIntyre (NC)
* Jim Matheson (UT)
* Jim Marshall (GA)
* Charlie Melancon (LA)
Betsy Markey (CO)
Eric Massa (NY)
Michael E. McMahon (NY)
Walt Minnick (ID)
Scott Murphy (NY)
Glenn Nye (VA)
* Collin C. Peterson (MN)
* Mike Ross (AR)
* Ike Skelton (MO)
* Heath Shuler (NC)
* John Tanner (TN)
* Gene Taylor (MS)
* Harry Teague (NM)
Those representatives with an asterisk preceding their name have an extra level of explaining to do. They voted in favor of the Stupak-Pitts (anti-women’s rights) amendment and then proceeded to vote against the health care bill.
2 Responses to “Health care passes House”
Thanks for the list. I will be sure to write to each of them and thank them for finally bringing some semblance of bipartisanship to the hill.
@ dapatriot:
You’re welcome. Notice it was the Democrats who finally brought “some semblance of bipartisanship to the hill.” It certainly was not the Republicans, though one of them did see the light.
I do not know if I would call betraying the trust of the American people and the principles of your own party “bipartisanship,” though. I’d probably use another word.