FACTBOX: Reaction to House healthcare vote
Sun Nov 8, 2009 1:18am EST

(Reuters) - The House of Representatives approved a healthcare reform bill on Saturday that would expand coverage to most Americans and bar insurance practices such as refusing to cover people with pre-existing conditions.
The battle over President Barack Obama's top domestic priority now shifts to the Senate, which has been struggling to fashion its own version of the legislation. Differences in the two bills eventually must be reconciled and passed again before being sent to Obama for his signature.

Here is a sampling of reaction to the narrow 220-215 vote on the bill.

President Barack Obama:

"Thanks to the hard work of the House, we are just two steps away from achieving health insurance reform in America. Now the United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will."

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid:

"In the Senate, we hope to receive CBO (Congressional Budget Office) scores back on our draft proposals in the coming days, and look forward to bringing a final bill to the Senate floor as soon as possible. We realize the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energized that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system."

House Republican leader John Boehner:

"Americans want a common-sense approach to healthcare reform, not Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 2,032-page government takeover that increases costs, adds to our skyrocketing debt, destroys jobs with tax hikes and new mandates, and cuts seniors' Medicare benefits."

Karen Ignani, president of America's Health Insurance Plans:

"The current House legislation fails to bend the healthcare cost curve and breaks the promise that those who like their current coverage can keep it. A new government-run plan will cause millions to lose their existing coverage and draconian Medicare Advantage cuts will force millions of seniors out of the program entirely."

James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association:

"Passage of the House health reform bill is a big step forward as we work for comprehensive health reform this year. The AMA will continue its work with Congress and the administration to strengthen and improve health reform legislation as the process continues for patients and physicians."

Bruce Josten, executive vice president of U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

"Today, the House missed a significant opportunity to advance reasonable and meaningful health reform that fundamentally changes how the healthcare system operates and changes the overall upward trajectory in spending. American employers and employees want an improvement in the nation's health care system, not an unsustainable, unaffordable overhaul. We urge the Senate to listen to the American people and reject the House's partisan approach to health care."

Richard Trumka, president AFL-CIO:

"This bill is a great step forward for America's working families. But we still have a long way to go. As the Senate considers a health care reform bill over the coming weeks and the House and Senate bills are combined in conference, working men and women across the country stand ready to redouble their efforts to finish the job and make real health care reform a reality."

http://www.reuters.com/article/gc07/idUS...