House of Representatives passes Senate health insurance reform bill

The final vote count on the Senate legislation in the House of Representatives: 219 Democrats in favour, all 176 Republicans opposed, with 34 Democrats also opposing.

Obama watched the vote in the White House's Roosevelt Room with Vice President Joe Biden and dozens of aides. When the long sought 216th vote came in — the magic number needed for passage — the room burst into applause and an exultant president exchanged a high-five with his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

"We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things," the president said a short while later in televised remarks. "We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people."

“This isn’t radical reform, but it is major reform,” Obama continued. “This is what change looks like.”

CNN's Ed Henry, citing White House aides, reported that Obama will continue "barnstorming on health care" this week, delivering speeches outside of Washington heralding the immediate benefits of the health care bill.

-- AP/Huffington Post

Tom Joad said on 21 Sunday 2010 9:34 pm:

To The Republiban Leadership (if one can call it that): You lost this battle and you will continue to lose because you are devoid of ideas. In the 15 months since the new administration has been in power, you have never - not even one time - proposed an alternative solution. You have no ideas. Your political philosophy is moribund. Good bye, Republiban.