American Politics Today

Congress has approved a package of final changes to the landmark healthcare overhaul. The House of Representatives put the finishing touches on the bill Thursday night after the Senate approved the package on a 56-43 vote. The reconciliation package does not include a public insurance option, though backers of the plan said they will work to see it implemented in follow-up legislation. [includes rush transcript] http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/26/congress_oks_final_changes_to_healthcare

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 220 to 207 on Thursday night to give final approval to the reconciliation portion of the health care reform bill, sending the measure to President Obama for his signature. The Senate passed the bill earlier Thursday 56 to 43. Although Obama signed the main $871 billion health care reform bill into law Tuesday, the Senate still had to pass the package of "fixes" to that measure in the reconciliation bill. The changes were demanded by House Democrats in exchange for supporting the Senate version of health reform in a vote on Sunday afternoon. Included in the reconciliation bill are billions of dollars in additional subsidies for middle-class Americans to purchase health insurance; a delay until 2018 for implementing the 40 percent excise tax on expensive insurance plans; reducing the states' share of expanding Medicaid rolls, and a major overhaul of the federal student loan program. Now that both chambers have approved Democrats'

$17.62 +0.49 (2.86%) 52Wk Range: 6.00 - 19.08

http://www.latimes.com/

None of these are extremely surprising, but here are three more Democratic congressmen now on the record on health reform – two in favor and one opposed. Most notable here is Rep. Baron Hill, D-Indiana, because he opposes abortion rights. Other pro-life Democrats remain an elusive bloc of necessary votes for passage of the bill. Baron Hill and Bill Owens will both vote yes. Both voted yes in November, but had been on the fence. Hill was concerned with the abortion language. In a statement, Hill says: “I have thoroughly reviewed the language prohibiting federal funding of abortion services and my conscience is clear that both reform bills accomplish the same goal — no taxpayer funds can be used to pay for elective abortions.” Owens is notable because he is from the NY -23 district, which was the original ground zero for the Tea Party. A long-held Republican seat, the tea party candidate won the Republican primary there but Owens, the Democrat, won the special election last year, just in

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/16/us/politics/20100316-health-care-dems.html Recent updates 3/19Kosmas says she will vote "yes."| 3/19Barrow says he will vote "no."| 3/19Ellsworth says he will vote "yes."| Log» The Vote Tally 26 in play 202 expected YES votes Includes 196 Democrats who voted YES in November and 6 who voted NO 203 expected NO votes Includes all Republicans and 23 Democrats who voted NO in November and 2 Democrats who voted YES 216 Tracking the Votes in Play Click the column headings below to view the representatives in each category. Click here to show all. Voted yes or no on November health care bill Not running for reelection Voted yes on abortion amendment District won by McCain District won by Obama Freshman Fiscally conservative Blue Dog Times 2010 race rating No Brian Baird (Wash. 3) Tossup Yes Marion Berry (Ark. 1) Tossup No Rick Boucher (Va. 9) Leaning Dem. Yes Christopher Carney (Pa. 10)

Obama Delays trip to Indonesia http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2010/0318/Obama-s-now-delayed-trip-to-Indonesia-Can-he-make-it-an-ally

The drive by House Democrats to pass major health care legislation gained momentum on Wednesday, as Representative Dennis Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio, announced that he would support the bill after previously opposing it, and Representative Dale E. Kildee, Democrat of Michigan, said the abortion restrictions were sufficient to win his vote.

Rielle Hunter Finds Her GQ Spread "Repulsive "http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/rielle-hunter-finds-her-gq-spread-repulsive-2010153 http://www.celebitchy.com/94474/rielle_hunter_finds_her_gq_photos_repulsive_-_most_people_agree/

Future historians may well include two Browns from New England who altered the arc of social justice in America: John Brown, the abolitionist whose words and deeds provided the backbone and impetus for the Civil War and an end to slavery; and Scott Brown, the newly elected Republican senator from Massachusetts, who may well be noted as the one whose opposition to national health-insurance reform (despite voting for similar legislation in his home state) ended http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/magazine/14letters-t-WHERESCOTTBR_LETTERS.html http://bostonist.com/2010/01/16/scott_brown_photo_gallery_whats_wro.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computing)

Republicans returned fire at President Obama's attempt Monday to paint them as squandering a decade by not passing health care reforms, saying Democrats stymied chances to pass tort reform and offered such stiff resistance on the Iraq war and Social Security fixes, it eliminated time for debate on other topics. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/08/obama-takes-health-care-road/ http://themoderatevoice.com/64428/camera-glimpses-of-obama-frustration-at-health-care-summit/

Bartholomew Thomas "Bart" Stupak (born February 29, 1952), has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing Michigan's 1st congressional district. It doesn't matter that 30 millions Americans don't have health insurance coverage but let's dwell on abortion. Letter from Bart Stupak to constituents concerned about alleged ties to secretive DC religious group The lone Democrat some think could kill health care reform. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100305/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1219_9

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