US House of Reps narrowly passes $1,000 billion over 10 years health reform bill

In an unusual Saturday sitting, the US Democratic-controlled House has narrowly - by a vote of 220 to 215 - passed landmark and far-reaching health care reform legislation - H.R. 3962 - designed to provide health insurance to an additional 36 million Americans at a cost of more than $1,000 billion over a decade, handing President Barack Obama a victory on his signature domestic priority. 'The House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people,' the President said in a statement after the vote, also urging the Senate to do likewise.

The bill was supported by 219 Democrats and one Republican - Joseph Cao from New Orleans - and opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats. The Bill passed after a last minute compromise on abortion funding and a scaling back of the public plan option. The debate now moves to the Senate, where Mr Obama is one short of the 60 votes needed, as two Senators oppose the public plan. Moreover, the abortion compromise has inflamed sensitivies in both the House and Senate.