Last night, the national House of Representatives passed the much anticipated Health Care Reform Bill, with a narrow vote of 220 to 215.
The legislation will require all U.S. citizens to carry a health insurance card (providing subsidized insurance to those unable to afford one) and require large companies to sufficiently cover the health insurance for all of their employees. The bill is estimated to cover 36 million of the nation’s uninsured.
The $1.2 trillion, 1,990 page legislation received only one vote from a Republican, newcomer Rep. Joseph Cao from New Orleans.
“I have always said that I would put aside partisan wrangling to do the business of the people. My vote tonight was based on my priority of doing what is best for my constituents,” Cao said after his vote.
Included in the bill is Senator Nancy Pelosi’s addition of extended health care coverage for children on their parent’s plan.
While the bill has passed in the House, it appears to face an even bigger challenge in the Senate, as a few of the power-wielding Democrats in Senate positions oppose the legislation. These Democrats, including Senator Lindsey Graham, are not pleased with the government health care plan included in the bill. As stated plainly by Graham:
“The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate,”
The bill is estimated to be formally brought to the Senate as late as January 2010.
You should look into whether the card you are required to carry is a “smart card” (smart meaning containing a small RFID chip). There are some videos here- in the favorites section- about health care reforms adopting RFID technology. http://www.youtube.com/luddite333