U.S. President Barack Obama's health care bill has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and now faces its greatest challenge, in the Republican laden Senate. Republicans are already vowing not to pass the bill, leaving President Obama and his fellow Democrats waiting with bated breath.
ObamaCare legislation in trouble
November 9, 2009 - Not so fast President Obama's victory dance yesterday for the House-passed health-care bill came as Senate foes -- mainly Republicans with one key Democrat moderate -- pronounced the measure mortally wounded, if not outright DOA. Speaking from the Rose Garden after the squeaker 220-215 Saturday-night vote, Obama urged senators to be like runners on a relay team and "take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people."
Instead, he met with immediate resistance If a government plan is part of the deal, "as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote," Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent whose vote Democrats need to overcome a GOP filibusters, told "Fox News Sunday." Lieberman said he was concerned about new government spending the health-care legislation would entail, saying deficits have gotten gargantuan. "I don't want to do that to our children and grandchildren," he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), on CBS's "Face the Nation," declared, "The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate." "It was bill written by liberals for liberals, and people like Joe Lieberman are not going to get anywhere near the House bill . . . It is a nonstarter in the Senate." He said he firmly believes "the public option will destroy private health care."
