You really have to be proud again being an American and seeing progress after 8 years of just... tax breaks for the rich & who can we invade or TORTURE next.
Health care reform clears a Senate hurdle
President praises Republican Olympia Snowe for her support
Health care reform clears major hurdle
Oct. 13: The Senate Finance Committee passed a sweeping health care bill Tuesday after one Republican, Sen. Olympia Snowe, broke with the GOP and voted to approve it.
NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
Nightly News
Updated 8:10 p.m. ET, Tues., Oct . 13, 2009
WASHINGTON - Historic legislation to expand U.S. health care and control costs won its first Republican supporter Tuesday and cleared a key Senate hurdle, a double-barreled triumph that propelled President Barack Obama's signature issue toward votes this fall in both houses of Congress.
"When history calls, history calls," said Maine Republican Olympia Snowe, whose declaration of support ended weeks of suspense and provided the only drama of a 14-9 vote in the Senate Finance Committee. With her decision, the 62-year-old lawmaker bucked her own leadership on the most high-profile issue of the year in Congress, and gave the drive to remake health care at least a hint of the bipartisanship that Obama seeks.
At the White House, Obama called the events "a critical milestone" toward remaking the nation's health care system. He praised Snowe as well as Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the committee, and declared, "We are going to get this done."
Health care reform clears a Senate hurdle
President praises Republican Olympia Snowe for her support
Health care reform clears major hurdle
Oct. 13: The Senate Finance Committee passed a sweeping health care bill Tuesday after one Republican, Sen. Olympia Snowe, broke with the GOP and voted to approve it.
NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
Nightly News
Updated 8:10 p.m. ET, Tues., Oct . 13, 2009
WASHINGTON - Historic legislation to expand U.S. health care and control costs won its first Republican supporter Tuesday and cleared a key Senate hurdle, a double-barreled triumph that propelled President Barack Obama's signature issue toward votes this fall in both houses of Congress.
"When history calls, history calls," said Maine Republican Olympia Snowe, whose declaration of support ended weeks of suspense and provided the only drama of a 14-9 vote in the Senate Finance Committee. With her decision, the 62-year-old lawmaker bucked her own leadership on the most high-profile issue of the year in Congress, and gave the drive to remake health care at least a hint of the bipartisanship that Obama seeks.
At the White House, Obama called the events "a critical milestone" toward remaking the nation's health care system. He praised Snowe as well as Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the committee, and declared, "We are going to get this done."
