(WHAS11) It’s the historic vote that will send the 2,074 page health care reform bill to the floor for debate; a victory for Democrats.
Senator Harry Reid said, “Our plan saves money, saves lives, and saves Medicare.”
In a press conference following this vote tonight, Senate Democrats Harry Reid and Chris Dodd said, this was in honor of Senator Ted Kennedy.
Senator Dodd said, “Constantly on all of our minds is Ted Kennedy who made this the cause of his life and last year..." Senator Reid interrupted and said, “Chris, I just spoke with Vicky Kennedy. She of course was in tears and she believed that Ted is watching us.” Senator Dodd responded, “I believe, maybe.”
Speaking just minutes before the vote, Kentucky Senator and Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, made a last ditch plea to Democrats to vote against this bill, saying that it raises premiums, raises taxes, and cuts Medicare.
McConnell said, “The simple math is this. If there were one democrat, just one of our friends on the other side of the aisle, just one that would say no tonight, none of this would happen.”
The vote was split right along party lines; all 58 Democrats and the two Independents who caucus with them, voted for the bill and 39 Senate Republicans, voted against it. One Republican Senator did not vote.
McConnell said, “Two thousand and seventy four pages and trillions of dollars later, this bill doesn’t even meet the basic goal that the American people had in mind and what they thought this debate was all about.”
Reid said, “The road ahead is long, but we can see the finish line.”
