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Message from the President: “A historic moment”
Shortly after the Senate vote this morning, Buy cheap online Provigil President Obama sent out the following email to supporters:
Although it's Christmas Eve, I wanted to share some exciting news: The Senate just passed a historic health reform bill.
In all the back and forth, it's easy to lose sight of what this incredible breakthrough really means. But consider this: This Christmas, there are millions of Americans without health insurance who risk losing everything if they get sick.
There are mothers and fathers who wonder how they'll provide for their children because an illness has wiped out their savings. There are small business owners who worry that they'll have to lay off a long-time employee because the cost of insurance is rapidly rising.
If we finish the job, all this can change. We will have beaten back the special interests who have for so long perpetuated the status quo. We will have enacted the most important piece of social policy since the Social Security Act in the 1930s, and the most important health reform since Medicare in the 1960s.
In Decembers to come, millions more will have access to affordable coverage. Parents will have the security and stability of knowing their insurance can't be revoked at a moment's notice. And the skyrocketing costs plaguing our small businesses will be brought under control.
When you make calls, write letters, organize, this is the change you're making -- a better life for your family and for men and women in every state.
There is still more to do before I can sign reform into law -- a last round of negotiations and final votes in the Senate and the House -- and I'm counting on your help every step of the way. But for now, I hope that as you celebrate this holiday season, you remember that the work you are doing is making our union more perfect, one step at a time. For that, I am grateful to you.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays,
President Barack Obama
P.S. -- Organizing for America supporters are signing a note of appreciation to all the senators who have worked so hard to make this possible. I hope you'll join them.
Message from the President: “A historic moment”
Shortly after the Senate vote this morning, President Obama sent out the following email to supporters:
Although it's Christmas Eve, I wanted to share some exciting news: The Senate just passed a historic health reform bill.
In all the back and forth, it's easy to lose sight of what this incredible breakthrough really means. But consider this: This Christmas, there Cheap Accutane are millions of Americans without health insurance who risk losing everything if they get sick.
There are mothers and fathers who wonder how they'll provide for their children because an illness has wiped out their savings. There are small business owners who worry that they'll have to lay off a long-time employee because the cost of insurance is rapidly rising.
If we finish the job, all this can change. We will have beaten back the special interests who have for so long perpetuated the status quo. We will have enacted the most important piece of social policy since the Social Security Act in the 1930s, and the most important health reform since Medicare in the 1960s.
In Decembers to come, millions more will have access to affordable coverage. Parents will have the security and stability of knowing their insurance can't be revoked at a moment's notice. And the skyrocketing costs plaguing our small businesses will be brought under control.
When you make calls, write letters, organize, this is the change you're making -- a better life for your family and for men and women in every state.
There is still more to do before I can sign reform into law -- a last round of negotiations and final votes in the Senate and the House -- and I'm counting on your help every step of the way. But for now, I hope that as you celebrate this holiday season, you remember that the work you are doing is making our union more perfect, one step at a time. For that, I am grateful to you.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays,
President Barack Obama
P.S. -- Organizing for America supporters are signing a note of appreciation to all the senators who have worked so hard to make this possible. I hope you'll join them.
Early Reactions to the Senate’s Historic Vote
Washington Post, “Senate approves landmark health-care bill”:
The Senate passed a landmark health-care bill Thursday morning that would provide coverage to more 30 million people and begin a far-reaching overhaul of Medicare and the private insurance market. Vice President Biden presided over the 60-39, party line vote. Thursday's vote -- which came on the first Senate session on Dec. 24 in more than five decades -- brings Democrats closer than ever to realizing their 70-year-old goal of universal health coverage. For the first time, most Americans would be required to obtain health insurance, either through their employer or via new, government-regulated exchanges. Those who can't afford insurance plans would receive federal subsidies. And Medicaid would be vastly expanded to reach millions of low-income children and adults.
AP, “Senate OKs health care measure, reaching milestone”:
Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history. The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no." The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage.
Los Angeles Times, “Senate OKs sweeping healthcare bill”:
Senate Democrats this morning passed a sweeping healthcare overhaul bill, setting the stage for reconciliation early next year with similarly historic legislation passed by the House last month… The bill, which is President Obama's top domestic priority, would extend insurance to about 30 million people who now lack it, expand the reach of Medicaid for the poor, and impose new rules on health insurance companies. It would cost about $871 billion over 10 years, but raise more than that in new taxes and fees and cuts in Medicare… The Senate bill would lead to the largest transformation of the country's healthcare system since the creation of Medicare in 1965. It would require all Americans to have health insurance, either through their jobs, through the government or through the private market, and it would penalize those who do not comply.
Wall Street Journal, “Senate Passes Sweeping Health-Care Bill; 60-39 Vote Is Landmark in Effort to Expand Insurance Coverage”:
The Senate approved sweeping health-overhaul legislation on Thursday, a landmark moment for White House-led efforts to expand insurance coverage to more than 30 million Americans. The bill, approved by a 60-39 vote, would deliver on a long-promised Democratic goal of extending coverage to nearly every American, and would represent the biggest expansion of the federal safety net since the 1965 creation of Medicare, the health-insurance program for the elderly and disabled. Thursday's vote was a victory for President Barack Obama, who made the issue his top domestic priority despite lingering divisions among Democrats and the fierce opposition of Republicans.
PBS, “Senate Passes Historic Health Care Reform Legislation”:
The Senate passed historic health care reform legislation in an early-morning vote Thursday, just making Democratic leaders' self-imposed Christmas deadline after a marathon 25 straight days in session. ‘This morning isn't the end of the process, it's merely the beginning,’ Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor before the vote. ‘But that process cannot begin unless we start today.
Talking Points Memo, “DONE DEAL Senate Passes Health Care 60-39”:
Presiding over the Senate, in a rare appearance, was Vice President Joe Biden. As Senate chair, the Vice President can serve as the tie-breaking vote in the event of a 50-50 deadlock. But tonight's victory for Democrats was never in doubt. Over the course of this week, Democrats have passed several test votes--set at a 60-member, supermajority threshold. The only question this morning was, would they keep all of their members united for the final vote. In the end they did.
Ron Brownstein, Atlantic Media, “Historic achievement...Largest Democratic legislative achievement since Medicare”:
Well I think there are two big points about it. First, this is - whatever you think about the underlying bill - an historic achievement. Up until this year no universal coverage bill had ever even reached the floor of the House or the Senate, much less passed it. It has defeated every other President who has tried it. Truman, Nixon, Clinton, FDR. This will be, as it now seems inevitable to reach the President's desk, this will be the largest Democratic legislative achievement since Medicare in 1965 and it will be achieved in an atmosphere that is very difficult to operate in simply because you now need 60 votes to do almost everything. There have been more cloture votes in the Senate this year than there were in the entire decade of the 1960s.
Ezra Klein, Washington Post, “No previous health-care reform bill has come anywhere near this far”:
On December 24th, in an early morning vote, the United States Senate voted to pass health-care reform. It was the first time the body had been in session on the 24th since 1963. That's fitting, as it's arguably the most important piece of legislation the body has passed since 1963. It's become difficult to write these milestone posts. Health-care reform, by this point, has had a lot of milestones. It has cleared five committees. It has come through the House of Representatives. It has been merged into a single bill in the Senate. It has passed through the Senate. No previous Buy cheap Accutane Online health-care reform bill has come anywhere near this far. But there are more milestones left to achieve: The House and Senate need to agree on a bill. That bill has to pass both chambers again. And then the president has to sign the legislation.
Politico, “HISTORIC VOTE”:
Before the sun comes up on Christmas Eve, Senate Democrats will gather to pass a sweeping health reform bill, then scatter to long-delayed holiday vacations with a victory for the party and President Barack Obama in hand.
Early Reactions to the Senate’s Historic Vote
Washington Post, “Senate approves landmark health-care bill”:
The Senate passed a landmark health-care bill Thursday morning that would provide coverage to more 30 million people and begin a far-reaching overhaul of Medicare and the private insurance market. Vice President Biden presided over the 60-39, party line vote. Thursday's vote -- which came on the first Senate session on Dec. 24 in more than five decades -- brings Democrats closer than ever to realizing their 70-year-old goal of universal health coverage. For the first time, most Americans would be required to obtain health insurance, either through their employer or via new, government-regulated exchanges. Those who can't afford insurance plans would receive federal subsidies. And Medicaid would be vastly expanded to reach millions of low-income children and adults.
AP, “Senate OKs health care measure, reaching milestone”:
Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history. The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no." The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage.
Los Angeles Times, “Senate OKs sweeping healthcare bill”:
Senate Democrats this morning passed a sweeping healthcare overhaul bill, setting the stage for reconciliation early next year with similarly historic legislation passed by the House last month… The bill, which is President Obama's top domestic priority, would extend insurance to about 30 million people who now lack it, expand the reach of Medicaid for the poor, and impose new rules on health insurance companies. It would cost about $871 billion over 10 years, but raise more than that in new taxes and fees and cuts in Medicare… The Senate bill would lead to the largest transformation of the country's healthcare system since the creation of Medicare in 1965. It would require all Americans to have health insurance, either through their jobs, through the government or through the private market, and it would penalize those who do not comply.
Wall Street Journal, “Senate Passes Sweeping Health-Care Bill; 60-39 Vote Is Landmark in Effort to Expand Insurance Coverage”:
The Senate approved sweeping health-overhaul legislation on Thursday, a landmark moment for White House-led efforts to expand insurance coverage to more than 30 million Americans. The bill, approved by a 60-39 vote, would deliver on a long-promised Democratic goal of extending coverage to nearly every American, and would represent the biggest expansion of the federal safety net since the 1965 creation of Medicare, the health-insurance program for the elderly and disabled. Thursday's vote was a victory for President Barack Obama, who made the issue his top domestic priority despite lingering divisions among Democrats and the fierce opposition of Republicans.
PBS, “Senate Passes Historic Health Care Reform Legislation”:
The Senate passed historic Buy cheap Cialis Online health care reform legislation in an early-morning vote Thursday, just making Democratic leaders' self-imposed Christmas deadline after a marathon 25 straight days in session. ‘This morning isn't the end of the process, it's merely the beginning,’ Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor before the vote. ‘But that process cannot begin unless we start today.
Talking Points Memo, “DONE DEAL Senate Passes Health Care 60-39”:
Presiding over the Senate, in a rare appearance, was Vice President Joe Biden. As Senate chair, the Vice President can serve as the tie-breaking vote in the event of a 50-50 deadlock. But tonight's victory for Democrats was never in doubt. Over the course of this week, Democrats have passed several test votes--set at a 60-member, supermajority threshold. The only question this morning was, would they keep all of their members united for the final vote. In the end they did.
Ron Brownstein, Atlantic Media, “Historic achievement...Largest Democratic legislative achievement since Medicare”:
Well I think there are two big points about it. First, this is - whatever you think about the underlying bill - an historic achievement. Up until this year no universal coverage bill had ever even reached the floor of the House or the Senate, much less passed it. It has defeated every other President who has tried it. Truman, Nixon, Clinton, FDR. This will be, as it now seems inevitable to reach the President's desk, this will be the largest Democratic legislative achievement since Medicare in 1965 and it will be achieved in an atmosphere that is very difficult to operate in simply because you now need 60 votes to do almost everything. There have been more cloture votes in the Senate this year than there were in the entire decade of the 1960s.
Ezra Klein, Washington Post, “No previous health-care reform bill has come anywhere near this far”:
On December 24th, in an early morning vote, the United States Senate voted to pass health-care reform. It was the first time the body had been in session on the 24th since 1963. That's fitting, as it's arguably the most important piece of legislation the body has passed since 1963. It's become difficult to write these milestone posts. Health-care reform, by this point, has had a lot of milestones. It has cleared five committees. It has come through the House of Representatives. It has been merged into a single bill in the Senate. It has passed through the Senate. No previous health-care reform bill has come anywhere near this far. But there are more milestones left to achieve: The House and Senate need to agree on a bill. That bill has to pass both chambers again. And then the president has to sign the legislation.
Politico, “HISTORIC VOTE”:
Before the sun comes up on Christmas Eve, Senate Democrats will gather to pass a sweeping health reform bill, then scatter to long-delayed holiday vacations with a victory for the party and President Barack Obama in hand.
Senate Passes Health Reform Bill
Shortly after 7:00 A.M. this morning, the Senate passed its version of the health reform bill by a vote of 60-39, with all Republican senators voting against. We'll have more details shortly.
UPDATED 7:48 A.M. President Obama is scheduled to deliver remarks on this morning's vote at 8:45 A.M. You can watch live onine at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
UPDATED 8:12 A.M. The Associated Press reports:
Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill Thursday that Cheap Cialis could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history.
The 60-39 vote on a cold Christmas Eve morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."
The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage.
Senate Passes Health Reform Bill
Shortly after 7:00 A.M. this morning, the Senate passed its version of the health reform bill by a vote of 60-39, with all Republican senators voting against. We'll have more details shortly.
UPDATED 7:48 A.M. President Obama is scheduled to deliver remarks on this morning's vote at 8:45 A.M. You can watch live onine at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
UPDATED 8:12 A.M. The Associated Press reports:
Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill Thursday that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history.
The 60-39 vote on a cold Christmas Eve morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by Provigil online No prescription past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."
The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage.
Senate Clears Final Hurdle to Set Up Christmas Eve Vote on Health Reform
With a vote of 60-39 (with all Republicans against), the Senate cleared the final procedural hurdle this afternoon to set up an up or down vote on health reform tomorrow morning. Tomorrow's vote will be Provigil pharmacy the first vote held on Christmas Eve since Dec. 24, 1895.
Morning News
Jubilant Democrats are ready to push President Barack Obama's health care overhaul past one last 60-vote hurdle to final Christmas Eve passage, and Republicans concede they're powerless to stop it…
At the White House, press secretary Robert Gibbs declared, "Health care reform is not a matter of if, health care reform now is a matter of when."
Obama himself said the Senate legislation accomplishes 95 percent of what he wanted. "Every single criteria for reform I put forward is in this bill," the president told The Washington Post.
The third procedural vote comes Wednesday afternoon, when Democrats will have to put up 60 votes for the last time to cut off debate on the legislation. Democrats are also expected to turn back points of order raised against the bill by Republicans, including one questioning the constitutionality of requiring most every American to buy health insurance. Final passage on the sweeping bill, which will extend health coverage to 30 million uninsured Americans, is set for 8 a.m. Thursday, Christmas Eve….
From the Washington Post:
President Obama outlined Tuesday a first-year legislative record that he said rescued the economy and placed it on a path of long-term growth, even as he acknowledged that some unfinished items would probably be more difficult to achieve heading into a midterm election year.
In an Oval Office interview with The Washington Post, Obama rejected criticism that he has compromised too much to secure health-care reform or turned over too much authority to congressional leaders in pursuing his broad legislative agenda…
"Overall, if you had a checklist of promises made, a lot of those promises have been kept," Obama said. "When those things are complete, and I think they will be, we will have achieved a fundamental shift in health care, energy, education and our financial regulatory system that will put this economy on a firmer footing to grow over the long term…"
Although Obama noted in the interview that "the most important thing we did this year was to ensure that the financial system did not collapse," health-care reform dominated his agenda and will stand as at least one pillar of the legacy he leaves behind…
In the interview, Obama vigorously defended the legislation, saying he is "not just grudgingly supporting the bill. I am very enthusiastic about what we have achieved."
"Nowhere has there been a bigger gap between the perceptions of compromise and the realities of compromise than in the health-care bill," Obama said. "Every single criteria for reform I put forward is in this bill."
In listing those priorities, he cited the 30 million uninsured Americans projected to receive coverage, estimated savings of more than $1 trillion over the next two decades, a "patients' bill of rights on steroids," and tax breaks to help small businesses pay for employee coverage...
From the New York Times:
...The assistant majority leader, Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, said Democrats would clear every procedural hurdle thrown at them by Republicans and complete work on the legislation.
“Thirty million Order Generic Accutane Online without Prescription Americans who currently don’t have health insurance have the peace of mind of knowing that they have health insurance,” Mr. Durbin said. He added, “This is a real debate over whether or not health care is going to be a right or a privilege in America.”
With that, the clerk called the roll.
The votes were all along party lines, with Senator James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma absent, leaving the Republicans with 39 votes in opposition…
Party leaders announced an agreement on Tuesday afternoon to hold the final health care vote beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, allowing lawmakers to race to the airport to get home for Christmas.
Lawmakers were growing increasingly anxious about their holiday travel plans and family obligations.
“I have a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old who are convinced that Santa Claus can be in both Washington and Connecticut,” said Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut. “That’s our latest challenge. I sent an e-mail to Santa.”
At the news conference after the votes, Democratic advocacy groups cheered and applauded as Mr. Reid, Mr. Dodd, Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, and Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa, entered the ornate Mansfield Room.
Mr. Reid, visibly relieved after securing the votes needed to complete the bill by Christmas, unfolded an elaborate baseball metaphor. He described Mr. Baucus as the speedy lead-off hitter, compared Mr. Dodd to Joe Morgan as the versatile No. 2 in the lineup, likened Mr. Harkin to Lou Gehrig batting third, and, in a rare moment of boastfulness, put himself in Babe Ruth’s cleanup spot.
But Mr. Reid quickly returned to modesty. “For me, for once in my life, I’m batting cleanup,” Mr. Reid said. “Because when I played baseball, I couldn’t bat cleanup. But by the time it got to me through Baucus, Dodd and Harkin, it was pretty easy.”