Senate committee passes healthcare reform 14 - 9

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | October 14, 2009 at 05:36 am

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In a step forward for healthcare reform, the Senate Finance committee has passed one of the versions in a vote of 14 to 9:

The Senate Finance Committee approved its version of health care reform by a 14-9 vote Tuesday, clearing the way for it to be merged with another committee’s bill for a vote by the full Senate.
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, was the only Republican to vote for the legislation. She did so with reservations, however, and said Democrats shouldn’t count on her vote if the bill is changed significantly before it comes to the floor.

“My vote today is my vote today,” Snowe said. “It doesn’t forecast what my vote will be tomorrow.”

The legislation aims to provide health insurance to more Americans by expanding Medicaid, providing tax credits to help low- and middle-income people buy coverage, and creating health insurance exchanges for individuals and small businesses. It also would require employers that don’t offer coverage to help pay for employees’ government-subsidized coverage.