Gonvernment and Insurance information in Kansas

Near-universal medical coverage is nearing even closer to reality than ever after Senate Democrats ushered in a landmark health care bill that President Barack Obama called 'the most important piece of social legislation since Social Security passed in the 1930s.'

The 60-39 vote on Christmas Eve came after tense negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. The vote was 58 Democrats and two independents voting 'yes' with Republicans unanimously voting 'no.'

That vote count was well beyond the simple majority needed for passage.

'I am disappointed that this bill passed the U.S. Senate,' said U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, in a call to The Morning Sun shortly after the vote on Wednesday. 'I think that it is harmful to the health care system as a whole and it is going to be horrific for the deficit, which is already exploding right now, already.'

Now, the Senate bill will have to be merged with legislation passed by the House before the President can sign a final bill before the new year.

'The bill was written behind closed doors, chalk full of backroom deals that favor certain states over others in a blatant effort to buy votes with taxpayer dollars. All to pass legislation a majority of Kansans fear will threaten the quality and cost of their health care,' said U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas. 'Worse, the bill uses budget gimmicks ' taxing us now while promising huge benefits. Well, there is a catch, folks ' the benefits won't kick in for four years but the taxes, fees and fines start when the President signs the bill.'

Both bills from the House and the Senate would extend health insurance to more than 30 million more Americans. Obama said the legislation 'includes the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable.'

Brownback said that the fight was not over and, at the same time Democratic leadership said that they have come to far to fail on the bill, Brownback and Roberts also said that there are still major concerns with both pieces of legislation.

'Now the Senate must merge this bill ' with in my view, an even worse House bill,' Roberts said. 'And again the bill will disappear behind closed doors ' a shameful process that makes a mockery of open and representative government.'

The House passed their own version of the bill in November. The legislation would ban the insurance industry from denying benefits or charging higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing conditions.

'Health care reform must make quality coverage more affordable and more accessible for Americans and allow those who like their current coverage to keep it,' U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, said from his home in Hays. 'Unfortunately, this bill will not accomplish these objectives.'

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill will reduce deficits by $130 billion of the next 10 years and employers would be induced to cover their employees through a combination of tax credits and penalties. The legislation cost nearly $1 trillion over 10 years and is paid for by a combination of taxes, fees and cuts to Medicaid.

'This fight is far from over, and it is my hope that this bill will not pass and that we can come back and work on a much more modest, bi-partisan approach,' Brownback said.

The negotiations between the House and Senate to settle differences between the two bills is expected to begin as soon as next week. The House bill has stricter limits on abortion than the Senate, while the Senate version takes out a government-run option.