House Passes Health Care Bill

On a vote of 220 to 215, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a sweeping health care bill. Thirty nine Democrats voted against the bill, which includes controversial new restrictions on funding for abortions. Unexpectedly, one Republican, Anh Cao of Louisiana, (the Republican who defeated disgraced Congressman William Jefferson in a heavily Democratic district), voted in favor of the bill.


The debate over national health care reform now shifts to the U.S. Senate; after the Senate cobbles together its final bill, that bill, if passed by the Senate, will be sent to a Conference Committee, where the differences between the bills will be worked out (or not.)