The Senate sent the healthcare “fixes” Bill back to the House on Thursday and the House passed the Senate changes to the Reconciliation Bill by a vote of 220 to 207. The Bill now goes to the President for his signature. Earlier, the Senate passed the Reconciliation Bill by a vote of 56 to 43.
This part of our nation’s healthcare reform has been a long and strange journey, and it’s nearly over…for now. Once President Obama signs this Bill into law–coupled with the previous Bill already enacted into law by the President–healthcare reform legislation will have transpired.
Three Democrats voted against the Bill–Senators Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mark Pryor (Ark.) and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.)–but it easily prevailed because Reconciliation Bills require only a simple majority to pass, not the 60 votes typically needed to advance Bills in the Senate. All three Senators voted for the Bill that Obama signed when it passed the Senate in December. Several Democrats also voted in support of some Republican amendments to the Reconciliation Bill but none were approved. Senate Democrats promised their House counterparts not to alter the legislation and offered no amendments during the three days of floor consideration.
Passage is expected. Of note are various successful Republican points-of-order (i.e. technicalities) that forced the deletion of a few provisions within the student-lending legislation that is attached to the Bill.
You can count on TASC to remain vigilant and to review in-depth the evolving legislation. As various provisions of the Bill are clarified, we know new questions are likely to surface, and we are at the ready. I have been in this business for 27 years, and have witnessed all the legislation and regulations that have been passed over that time relative to our industry and our customers. With that experience, I am confident TASC will continue to provide leadership that our Clients can rely on.
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