8:00pm | The U.S. House passed H.R. 3590, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by a vote of 219-212. The bill needed 216 votes to pass. The bill will now go to the President. Long Beach-area representatives released statements this evening in reaction to their votes. Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D) voted in favor of the bill and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R) voted in opposition.
Congresswoman Laura Richardson released the following statement. Click here to read the complete statement. (Editor’s Note: We accidently included the wrong link to Congresswoman Richardson’s complete statement. The link is now fixed.)
“While this legislation does not include an comprehensive full public option as the House of Representatives preferred, it is a giant step forward in beginning the reform of our nation’s current neglectful healthcare system,” Congresswoman Richardson said.
“Right here in the 37th District, more than 90,000 people who are currently uninsured will now be able to have affordable access to coverage,” Congresswoman Richardson added. “Our 17,500 neighbors who have pre-existing conditions that have prevented them from getting decent coverage will finally be able to find insurance plans that they qualify for and more than 60,000 of our seniors will see their Medicare benefits improve.
“Today, March 21, more than one year after this debate began; this legislation lays the foundation for meeting the healthcare needs of all of America’s families,” Congresswoman Richardson said. “As I continue to serve the constituents of the 37th Congressional District, I will work hard to make sure that we build on HR 4872 to strengthen the language and amend for areas not covered, so no one will be left to fall through the cracks and all families have the tools and access they need to be healthy and productive Americans.”
Congressman Rohrabacher released the following statement. Click here to read the complete statement.
“I don’t know what’s more odious,” said Rohrabacher. “The consequences of this government takeover of our health care system or the way this legislation has been rammed through with backroom deals and procedural trickery.
“The process put forth by the Democrats has made a mockery of all the pledges by the President of bipartisanship and transparency. I don’t know of any other legislation as consequential as this passed with such a partisan sledgehammer.
“This trillion dollar monstrosity is not only an attack on every American’s freedom but will increase taxes and deficit spending in the middle of a recession when we cannot even afford the government programs we already have, all without bringing down health care costs.
“This legislation is not the health care reform the American people want or deserve. All this will do is addict the American people to socialism and make us dependent on the federal bureaucracy.”
10:00am | The U.S. House of Representatives debates what should be the final votes on health care reform. LIVE video coverage is provided via MSNBC. The House will consider of a series of votes to hand the President the first major overhaul of health care in nearly half a century.