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TOP STORIES
TuesdayFebruary92010



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Doggett confident health care reform bill will pass Senate vote
Updated: 11/9/2009 8:21 PM
By: Karina Kling

Rep. Lloyd Doggett voted in favor of the House bill.  
History was made Saturday, as U.S. House members narrowly passed their version of a health care bill, though a big hurdle still lies ahead in the U.S. Senate.

The Democrat-controlled House cheered the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, in what would be the biggest expansion of health care coverage since Medicare was created more than 40 years ago.

"We've not gotten there yet, but we've gotten further than we've ever gotten before," Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said.

More Information
Extensive Coverage
More Information

Check out Health-Care Reform 2009: Tracking the National Health-Care Debate, courtesy of The Washington Post. Coverage includes:

With timing uncertain, focus shifts to Senate

Abortion an obstacle to health-care bill: Some Democrats vow to block final passage if amendment stays

A vote to make or break a career: Lone House Republican backed health bill after abortion was limited

The House Passes Health-care Bill: A look at how members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted

Rep. Doggett said the House bill means small businesses will now be able to access more coverage for employees, people with preexisting conditions won't be turned away and the six million Texans without insurance will have a chance to choose it.

"For our one in four families that lack health insurance, it means there will now be a place, much like going to buy an airline ticket on the net, to be able to go compare prices for a standard policy," he said.

Doggett said a tough fight awaits the U.S. senators, but he's confident the president will sign a health care reform bill before long.

A Senate version has not yet been formally released, as the work of two committees is being merged.

 WATCH THE VIDEO
More Information
Doggett

News 8's Karina Kling sat down with Congressman Lloyd Doggett to talk about what passing the House bill could mean for Texans.



But Stacey Pogue with the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization, said at this point, the Senate bill doesn't look like the better option.

"What we expect is that the Senate bill will not provide as much help for low- and moderate-income families as the House bill did," she said.

Doggett also has concerns over the Senate's possible opt-out plan for public insurance.
 

"I think that would be a really bad decision. For one thing, we need a national program of health insurance that can compete with these national insurance companies," Doggett said.

With a historic passage on one side of the Capitol, eyes are now turned to the Senate, as many wonder whether health care reform will happen before the New Year, if at all.

If both chambers pass a bill, committees will merge the House and Senate proposals.

More Information
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11/4/09Texans hold multi-media health care news conference
10/13/09Snowe said her break with GOP is just for Tuesday
10/5/09With key vote expected, Obama makes overhaul pitch
9/24/09Resignation delay could mean last-minute Senate shuffle
9/23/09Health care reform could insure millions of Texans
9/22/09Local musicians hopeful for health care reform
9/18/09Obama in media blitz to push health care overhaul
9/13/09White House allies downplay need for public option
9/11/09Gov. Kaine speaks on health care reform at DNC meeting
9/10/09DNC touts Obama's health care address
9/9/09Obama relases more details on health care reform bill
9/9/09Personal stakes involved in health care debate
9/9/09Gibbs: Public option still on table on health care
9/8/09Family doctors dwindling
9/6/09Bottom line on public insurance plan gets blurry
9/6/09White House suggests public health care plan is negotiable
8/30/09Doggett pushes health care reform at town hall meeting
8/29/09Edwards' constituents weigh in on health care reform
8/26/09With Kennedy's death, a look to the future of health care
8/24/09Governors ask for health care `bottom line'
8/24/09Gray Panthers host health care forum
8/22/09Citizens attempt to find solution to health care reform
8/21/09Edwards announces dates for in-person town hall meetings
8/19/09Crowded meetings on health care across country



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