Originally Posted by http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government/ci_14728265

WASHINGTON — House Democrats approved a far-reaching overhaul of the nation's health system on Sunday, voting over unanimous Republican opposition to provide medical coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans after an epic political battle that could define the differences between the parties for years.

With the 219-212 vote, the House gave final approval to legislation passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve. Thirty-four Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the bill. The vote sent the measure to President Barack Obama, whose yearlong push for the legislation has been the centerpiece of his agenda and a test of his political power.

After approving the bill, the House adopted a package of changes to it by a vote of 220-211. That package — agreed to in negotiations among House and Senate Democrats and the White House — goes to the Senate for action as soon as this week. It would be the final step in a bitter legislative fight that has highlighted the nation's deep partisan and ideological divisions.

On a sun-splashed day outside the Capitol, protesters, urged on by House Republicans, chanted, "Kill the bill" and waved yellow flags declaring, "Don't Tread on Me." They carried signs saying, "Doctors, Not Dictators."

Inside, Democrats hailed the votes as a historic advance in social justice, comparable to the establishment of Medicare and Social Security. They said the bill would also put downward
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pressure on health care costs and rein in federal budget deficits.

"This is the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century," said Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat in the House.

Obama celebrated the House action in remarks at the White House.

"We pushed back on the undue influence of special interests," Obama said. "We didn't give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear. Instead, we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things."

"This isn't radical reform," he added, "but it is major reform."

After a year of combat and weeks of legislative brinkmanship, House Democrats and the White House clinched their victory only hours before the voting started on Sunday. They agreed to a deal with opponents of abortion rights within their party to reiterate in an executive order that federal money provided by the bill could not be used for abortions, securing for Democrats the final handful of votes they needed to assure passage.

Winding up the debate, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "After a year of debate and hearing the calls of millions of Americans, we have come to this historic moment. Today, we have the opportunity to complete the great unfinished business of our society and pass health insurance reform for all Americans that is a right and not a privilege."

The House Republican leader, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, said lawmakers were defying the wishes of their constituents. "The American people are angry," Boehner said. "This body moves forward against their will. Shame on us."

Republicans said the plan would saddle the nation with unaffordable levels of debt, leave states with expensive new obligations, weaken Medicare and give the government a huge new role in the health care system.

The debate on the legislation has highlighted the deep partisan and ideological divides in the nation and set up a bitter midterm congressional election campaign, with Republicans promising an effort to repeal it or block its provisions in the states.

"It was Teddy Roosevelt who first started talking about this. . . . To think about all the people whose lives will be saved or enriched because of this, it's really very satisfying," said Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose.

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, decried "the shameful campaigns of fear-mongering and ridiculous conspiracy theories'' and declared that "the American people have won."

But Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., denounced the bill as "a fiscal Frankenstein." Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R- Fla., called it "a decisive step in the weakening of the United States." Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said it was "one of the most offensive pieces of social engineering legislation in the history of the United States."

The Democratic effort to secure the 216 votes needed for passage of the legislation came together only after last-minute negotiations involving the White House, the House leadership and a group of Democratic opponents of abortion rights, led by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich.

Sunday afternoon, members of the group announced that they would support the legislation after Obama promised to issue an executive order to "ensure that federal funds are not used for abortion services."

Stupak described the order as a significant guarantee that would "protect the sanctity of life in health care reform." But supporters of abortion rights — and some opponents — said the order merely reaffirmed what was in the bill.

The procedural vote on Sunday, approving the terms of debate, put the House on track to approve the health care bill that was passed by the Senate on Dec. 24, on a party-line vote. That bill will soon become the law of the land, the White House said.