12 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Democratic-controlled House has narrowly passed historic health care legislation to provide medical coverage to millions more Americans.
Most Americans would be required to carry insurance and large employers would be obliged to cover their employees.
The House passed the measure with a 220-215 vote.
One Republican voted in favor of the bill. Thirty-nine Democrats voted against it.
Among Central Georgia's delegation, Democrat Sanford Bishop voted yes. Democrats Jim Marshall and John Barrow and Republican Jack Kingston voted no.
The House passed the measure shortly after they used a near partyline vote to reject a Republican alternative.
Before the final vote late Saturday, the House passed an amendment prohibiting coverage of abortions in a new government-run health care plan that Democrats want to compete with private insurers.
The vote was on an amendment to a Democratic-written bill to provide health care insurance coverage to 36 million Americans who don't have it now.
The 240-194 vote on the amendment was a blow to liberals who would let the Obama administration decide whether to cover abortions in a government-provided insurance plan.
Central Georgia Democratic congressmen Jim Marshall, Sanford Bishop and John Barrow voted for the amendment, as did local Republican congressmen Jack Kingston and Paul Broun.
Sixty-four Democrats joined 176 Republicans in favor of the prohibition.
The amendment also prevents private insurers from covering abortions for anyone getting federal subsidies to help pay their premiums.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Associated Press
