U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., each voted to pass their chamber's version of federal health care legislation, The Associated Press reports.
The 60-39 roll call reflected a party-line vote and the absence of Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.
The bill "could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history," AP reports, adding that is also "must still be merged with legislation passed by the House before Obama could sign a final bill in the new year. There are significant differences between the two measures but Democrats say they've come too far now to fail."
AP also offers a comparison of the Senate- and House-passed versions that must be reconciled by a conference committee.
Byrd issued a statement following his vote. Rockefeller had earlier posted his floor speech (and audio as well as video) in support of the legislation.
24 December 2009
They Voted for You: Health Care
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Shame on them for voting for a bill which increases the deficit, cuts Medicare, unconstitutionally forces Americans to buy a product they may not want and increases health care costs for everyone. If only they could have waited until after the new year to pass this bill which was only written last week, the groundswell of American opinion could have weighed in before this travesty was approved. Our only hope is that reconciliation fails or that the next congress can repeal this before the most damaging aspects come into effect.
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