According to MSNBC, Obama has now signed the landmark healthcare reform bill into law.
President Obama was noted as saying the law “will set into motion what a generation of Americans have fought for.” He also stated that he believed the Senate would make the necessary “fixes” to the legislation “swiftly.”
Additionally, the president paid tribute to the “historic leadership and uncommon courage” shown by members of Congress who, despite the often heated debate, plowed forward with the measure.
The White House took every measure to ensure Obama’s healthcare victory celebration held no confict; his meetings were closed to coverage and the planned announcement of Vice President Joe Biden’s new drug control policy was called off. Even press secretary Robert Gibbs did not hold his regular daily briefing.
Obama will be visiting Iowa City, IA on Thursday to talk to citizens who have been deeply divided over the healthcare overhaul about how the new law will help to lower healthcare costs for families and small businesses.
Republicans who are united in their opposition of the plan lack the necessary votes to repeal, but the party plans to use the issue to regain control of Congress in the November elections.
After merciless debate, the House voted 219-212 to send the 10-year, $938 billion bill to Obama. Every Republican, as well as some Democrats voted against this bill.
The plan, which will bring near-universal healthcare to those who aren’t insured will be phased in through 2014. Coverage is expected to expand to 95 percent of Americans, as compared to the currently covered 83 percent.
Republicans, however, have plans to suggest scores of amendments that will slow or change a companion measure sought by House Democrats that will be debated at the Senate as early as Tuesday.
States that lean toward Republican have already begun lining up to sue the federal government over the constitutionality of the overhauled healthcare measure. At least 10 of the 50 states’ officials have agreed to filing a lawsuit that challenges the new law on grounds that it violates state sovereignty by mandating all Americans to have some type of healthcare insurance. According to experts, the effort is likely to fail as the U.S. Constitution sets forth that federal law is to supersede state law, however it will succeed in keeping the issue relevant until the elections in November.
“Tea Party Activists,” as those against government spending and influence have been dubbed, have vowed to take political revenge on those who have passed the healthcare reform bill into law.
The government “has declared war on our way of life,” Eric Odom, an activist from Nevada said on Monday.
So, despite the passing of the legislation, the argument over healthcare reform continues. It looks like the heated debate will keep making headline news for quite a few more months
Tue, Mar 23, 2010
Health Insurance