By Stephen Kopko
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
WASHINGTON D.C., United States-Since the Senate passed their version of legislation reforming the health care system of the United States, President Obama has received a great deal of criticism. Both leaders in Congress and the general public have been critical of health care reform for being too costly. Despite setbacks, the House of Representatives is set to vote again on a health care reform bill this Sunday. The House will vote on the legislation through the reconciliation process.
Reform of the United States health care system has been a controversial issue for a number of years. Previously, President Bill Clinton tried to reform the system in the early 1990’s but was unsuccessful. President Obama promised to reform the health care system while running for President last year. With the vote on the legislation expected to happen tomorrow, President Obama is on the verge of fulfilling his promise.
Approximately forty-five million people in the United States do not have health insurance. According to the proposed legislation, the reconciliation bill will help to provide coverage to an estimated thirty-two million Americans. The cost of expanding coverage is approximately nine-hundred and forty billion dollars spread over a ten year period. The proposed reform bill will provide subsidies to low and middle class families that cannot afford health insurance currently. It prohibits health insurance companies from denying coverage to people who have pre-existing conditions. In order to encourage people to purchase health insurance, those people who do not have health insurance would pay a penalty each year. The bill would also expand Medicaid, the government run health insurance program designed for those in poverty.
As the vote on the reconciliation bill nears, President Obama has been rallying support for the legislation all over the country. President Obama stated; “In just a few days, a century-long struggle will culminate in a historic vote.” He further stated that “the time for reform is now.”
The vote on the reform legislation is expected to be on party lines. Congressional Republicans have greatly criticized the reconciliation bill. Their main concern with the proposed legislation is that it amounts to a government takeover of an entire industry. They also believe that the bill would cost more to middle class families by raising premiums.
For more information, please see:
CNN-House Rules Committee setting guidelines for health care vote-20 March 2010
MSNBC-9 major changes in the new health care bill-19 March 2010
NY Times-Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill-19 March 2010
