The Associated Press: Ill. governor candidates split on health care
Chicago — Candidates for Illinois Governor are split over a national Health Care plan with all but one Republican saying the state should opt out if it can, a position rejected by Democrats Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes. Democrats in Washington are considering whether to include a Public Option — that is, a government-managed Health Insurance program — in any Health Care overhaul they try to pass. To make that Public Option more palatable to doubters, some advocates are pushing...

The Associated Press: Abortion could roil Senate health care debate
Washington — Abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the Health Care overhaul bill, a move that could roil a shaky Democratic effort to pass President Barack Obama's signature issue by year's end. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Monday he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal dollars from going to pay for Abortions. Nelson is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House this weekend. "I want to...

Pelosi kept public plan in the frame
When President Barack Obama called the Public Health Insurance Option a “sliver” of healthcare reform, and a top White House lieutenant deemed it “not essential,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) didn't relent. When her fellow Democrats in the Senate were calling a Public plan dead on arrival, she made it clear that House Democrats were talking about what kind of Public Option they would pass

Pelosi kept public plan in the frame
When President Barack Obama called the Public Health Insurance Option a “sliver” of healthcare reform, and a top White House lieutenant deemed it “not essential,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) didn't relent. When her fellow Democrats in the Senate were calling a Public plan dead on arrival, she made it clear that House Democrats were talking about what kind of Public Option they would pass

Health Care: House Plan vs Senate Plan
The prognosis isn't looking so hot for the Health Care reform bill pushed through by the House over the weekend. Some Senators say the bill is "dead on arrival." As they tinker away on a measure of their own... we wanted to know... how would the different plans affect you?   WFMZ'S Jaccii Farris breaks it down for us.  >>REPORTER:  Both the House and Senate versions require all Americans to have Health Insurance. Whether they get it from their employer,...

When Congress sells out women
The Democrats' lust to win at any cost stripped Abortion from the healthcare bill. Can pro-choicers put it back? By Frances Kissling AP Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., arrives for a meeting on pending healthcare legislation on Capitol Hill Saturday. It was just a week ago that I sat in Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s office, along with others in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, to strategize about getting pro-choice people of faith out to make sure that Health Insurance reform...

Democrat Edwards broke the news himself to Obama on his 'no’ vote on healthcare
WASHINGTON — Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, one of 39 Democrats to vote "no" on the $1.2 trillion healthcare bill that the House passed Saturday night, personally gave the news about his vote in advance to President Barack Obama, his staff said Monday. "On Friday, the day before the vote, President Obama called and asked Chet if he could support the House bill, and Chet respectfully said 'no,’ " said Josh Taylor, Edwards’ spokesman. Edwards at one time last year was on...

After Passing House, What's Next for Health Care Bill?
The House of Representatives' passage of Health Care reform was historic, but far from the end of the story. The Senate must still vote on its own version of reform, which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has not released. The two bills would then be reconciled in a conference committee before it could be signed into law. The Senate, crippled by the need for any legislation to secure 60 votes so it can overcome a Filibuster, could be far more of a hurdle for Democrats than the House. Here's...

Bill Clinton to address Senate Democrats on health care
CNN has learned from two senior Democratic sources that former President Bill Clinton will attend the Senate Democrats' weekly luncheon Tuesday to address the caucus about Health Care.

Pelosi: Anti-abortion amendment necessary for health care bill to pass
Seattle (AP) - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that while she opposes an anti-Abortion amendment to the House version of the Health Care bill , it was necessary for the measure to pass. The California Democrat said the language to prohibit the new government Insurance plan from covering Abortions "would have been in the bill one way or another." She said backers of the far-reaching legislation to overhaul the U.S. Health Care system thought it was better to have the language...

Former President Clinton to Speak About Health Care to Senate Democrats
The 42nd President of the United States will speak to Senate Democrats about Health Care on Tuesday during a weekly luncheon event The Democratic Party’s Health Care reform Bill was passed on Saturday night by the U.S. House of Representatives by a 220 to 215 vote. The Bill required 218 votes to receive approval and all but one of the 220 House Representatives who voted in favor of the Health Care Bill were House Democrats. Although the Bill has passed its first crucial test, it is now headed...

House health bill unacceptable to many in Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has passed its version of a Health Care overhaul, but analysts aren't expecting the Senate to follow suit any time soon. Majority Leader Harry Reid is already hinting that senators may not be able to finish a Health Care measure this year. For now, he's trying to find the votes for a government plan that states could opt out of. Saturday's close House vote passed a measure that includes a government Health Insurance plan. That provision is unacceptable to some...

House health bill unacceptable to many in Senate - Yahoo! News
Washington – Don't look for the Senate to quickly follow the House on Health Care overhaul. A government Health Insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate. They're locked in a battle with liberals, with the fate of President Barack Obama 's signature issue at stake. If a government plan is part of the deal, "as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote," said Sen. Joe...

House Health Bill Unacceptable to Many in Senate
Washington (AP) -- Don't look for the Senate to quickly follow the House on Health Care overhaul. A government Health Insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate. They're locked in a battle with liberals, with the fate of President Barack Obama's signature issue at stake. If a government plan is part of the deal, "as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote," said Sen. Joe...

House health bill unacceptable to many in Senate
Don't look for the Senate to quickly follow the House on Health Care overhaul. A government Health Insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate. They're locked in a battle with liberals, with the fate of President Barack Obama's signature issue at stake. If a government plan is part of the deal, "as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote," said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the...

Health Bill Unacceptable In Senate: PHOTO
Washington (AP)

The House Health Care Reform Bill That Passed and Passed Over
Some are celebrating the weekend passage of a Health Insurance bill in the House of Representatives . Pero those unhappy and critical aren’t just tea-baggers and others crying over a red scare. From jump, I was angered that Health Care reform was excluding and scapegoating some of the communities I feel strongly about, immigrants and women. The Affordable Health Care for America Act, aka HR3962, passed 220-215 but the act contains provisions that bar access to services for women. The...

Abortion Coverage Severely Restricted in House Health Reform Bill
Video: Health Insurance Basics

Many In Senate Opposed To Health Bill: PHOTO
WASHINGTON - As the focus on Health Care reform shifts to the Senate, analysts aren't expecting the chamber to pass an overhaul bill any time soon. Saturday's close House vote passed a measure that includes a government Health Insurance plan. That provision is unacceptable to some Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate. If a government plan is part of the deal, "as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote," said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the...

Local Pols Split Over Health Care Bill: PHOTO
Happiness and anger being felt by area Congressmen over Public Health plan.

Liberals in House vow to vote against healthcare bill if abortion provision remains
They say they will not support the final bill if the provision remains.

Poll: Do You Support the House Healthcare Bill's Abortion Plan?
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country The House has passed a healthcare reform bill that prohibits a Public Health Insurance option or private plans participating in the government healthcare exchange from including Abortion as part of their basic coverage. Women who wanted such coverage would have to buy separate Abortion coverage riders. Antiabortion activists doubt the language will survive; Abortion rights supporters are not so sure. What do you think of the bill's approach to Abortion? Explain...

Editorial: It's the Senate's turn now on health care
So now Health-care reform rests on the shoulders of the Senate and in the hands of Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid. The House did its part, passing a plan that would extend Health Insurance to 36 million Americans, requiring those who can afford it to buy coverage and subsidizing those who can't. The cost over the first 10 years is estimated at $1.2 trillion. DeCock: Ginyard ready to lead Tar Heels By LUKE DeCOCK, Raleigh News and Observer CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - This is the one piece of advice...

“Unacceptable”: House Fails To Rock The Senate: PHOTO
Washington (AP) - Don’t look for the Senate to quickly follow the House on Health Care overhaul. A government Health Insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate. They’re locked in a battle with liberals, with the fate of President Barack Obama’s signature issue at stake. If a government plan is part of the deal, “as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final...

State's poor being shifted to different medical plan
The Pawlenty administration, which faced criticism for proposing to eliminate a state Health-care program for the indigent, has decided to transfer most of those recipients to a subsidized Insurance plan for the working poor. The General Assistance Medicare Program (GAMC) program for adults making less than $7,800 a year is scheduled to go away March 1, potentially leaving some 36,000 recipients -- many with chronic illnesses and often homeless and mentally ill -- without regular access to...