Thursday, November 19, 2009

PLN21

In the article, $849 billion health bill sets up historic debate, found at http://article.wn.com/view/2009/11/19/849_billion_health_bill_sets_up_historic_debate_w/, by David Espo of The Guardian, he describes the new health care bill just unveiled in the U.S. Senate, its intricate workings and politics. Two of the key features of the bill is that it will extend coverage to 94% of eligible Americans and it would disallow insurance companies the ability to deny coverage to people with diagnosed medical problems. President Barack Obama has said that reforming the health care system is his number one domestic priority and this bill gets him one step closer in his journey of a thousand miles. The bill would require most Americans to have health insurance and it would help pay for this insurance for those who cannot afford it. However the bill will need 60 votes to even make it open for debate by the full Senate. This vote will be tight. Each of the 58 Democratic senators and the two Independent senators will need to stick together in order to get this bill passed. There is slim to no hope for Republican support. The proposed Senate bill and the House-passed bill share many key features but there are also many differences particularly in the financing. The fate of this bill is still cloudy but many Americans believe it must be passed.

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