March 24, 2010

Obama Signs Health Care Reform Bill Into Law

President Barack Obama signed into law on March 23 his landmark health care reform bill that will extend health coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, The New York Times reports.

“The bill I’m signing will set in motion reforms that generations of Americans have fought for and marched for and hungered to see,” Obama said during the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House. “Today we are affirming that essential truth, a truth that every generation is called to rediscover for itself, that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations.”

On the same day the president signed the landmark legislation, Republican opponents to the bill rallied behind a new slogan, “repeal and replace.” Republicans in the Senate have vowed to block—or at least gut—a 150-page “fixes” package to the health care law, which was written under special reconciliation rules. Meanwhile, attorneys general in 13 states, most of whom are Republican, filed lawsuits against the health care bill, labeling it unconstitutional for forcing Americans to buy insurance or face a penalty.

Democrats, however, are urging Republican critics to stand down.

“Now it is a fact,” said Senator Max Baucus (D–Mont.). “Now it is law. Now it is history. Indeed, it’s historic.”

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Previous Comments:

Bryan, , 2010-03-27 02:13:43
Derrick. Honestly if I wanted to hear that same exact speach Id turn on MSNBC. Now for reality, this is going to cost more that anyone has imagined, and none of the small business owners I know are optomistic that this will do anything other than hurt them and cause them to lay off employees in order to meet the Govt demands. H/C needs reformed I agree but this was simply a poor bill otherwise more people would have supported it and it would not have had to be passed in such a sleazy way.

Jonathan, Lake Charles, LA, 2010-03-26 15:16:14
Ah...Derrick, Reading and thinking for yourself or listening to the duplicitous bile spewed from the news? What you wrote sounds a lot like a Keith "I feel a tingle up my leg" Olbermann's take on the whole piece of putrid legislation. Yes, please read the ENTIRE bill. Maybe then you will realize that a 10 year tax and 2 or 3 years at the tail end of programs is the only way that it "saved" money.

Jonathan, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 2010-03-25 21:35:05
Bryan, to answer the questions you posed- 1. Less than 10 years. 2. He does realize it and doesn't care. 3. The cost-yes, yes, and yes. Small businesses will shut, causing millions to lose insurance. If you're poz and on meds, where shall one find 1,800 to cover monthly cost?? And if it's so f---ing wonderful, why did congress write themselves a permanent, non-repealable loophole to keep their 500/yr all inclusive healthcare plans?!

Derrick, NYC, 2010-03-25 18:56:11
this reform does many things 1.provide tax cuts to bizz's for workers (this year) 2.make it illegal to refuse for pre-existing conditions (this year) 3.make the h/c ins corps PAY more $ for care for every $ they recv 4.end subsidies to h/c corps 5.Allow kids to stay on parents ins until 26yo (this year) #1could spur hiring, or at least raises #2will give everyone peace of mind, especially parents of chronic ails This law will save $138B over the 1st 10yrs & over $1.2T over 20yrs!!! READ IT!!!

Bryan, , 2010-03-25 16:12:46
I wonder how long it will take to bankrupt the country & send even more of us, who have health insurance, out of jobs. I wish Obama would realize how many small businesses wont be able to afford it. His political spin and budgeting BS is going to hurt this country. I wish people would actually read these bills & not just believe everything Obama puts out. I dont mind helping the less fortunate, I work with several charities and adopted 3 kids, but at what cost? my job? my insurance? my life?

Marc, , 2010-03-25 15:41:00
I am seriously worried about how quickly insurance companies will be dropping hundreds of thousands of plans, increasing the burdens on already overwhelmed ADAP programs. Regulate the industry, definitely. Open access to more US Citizens? Wonderful. Hope this plan will not increase the number of illegal immigrants clogging the system and being afforded healthcare they don't pay for...hold on to your pocketbooks...oh, btw, check out the 2x increase in student loan rates included in healthcare!

Marvelous, Sterlling, 2010-03-25 15:07:31
Great, Wonderful, Good. Healthcare as said by the foundation of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic in California. Health Care is a right, and should not be an option. People are not objects. The policy to "Not" insure someone for a previous medical condition is beyond reason and comprehension, and when did IPO"s, and PPO's become doctor's. People are dying simply because the insurance associate did not approve a procedure. Its a grand day in America.

Greg747, Patchogue, NY, 2010-03-25 14:29:13
Hey Friends, wait a sec! No, Americans are NOT receiving health care from this bill, some form of health insurance, yes. This is only a baby step in the right direction folks, not much more. Medicare For All - read it; it will never pass Congress because it actually makes sense, it is short, legible, abolishes private insurance, creates a single payer, universal health care system. Too good to be true? Yupper.

Jerry B., Fredericksburg, Va., 2010-03-25 13:26:16
Yeah, the dumb bunnies here in Virginia have filed a law suit against this bill. It's really embarassing to live in Virginia I should have stayed in California when I moved there but then they have ARONLD to deal with.

George E. Thomas, McKinney, 2010-03-25 11:23:26
It is well past time. I am thrilled that AMERICANS are now going to be able to receive health care. I don't mind us, America, helping others, for whatever reason, but now it can be said we hare helping our own.

Steve O'Dell, Phoenix, 2010-03-25 11:14:53
I'm very proud of what my party has done, especially in face of the mad dog opposition they faced from the republlicans. Those who voted for the bill are true heroes. Now it's time to move on to the other urgent business of the people.

cc, , 2010-03-24 23:39:32
Less than 24 hours after the bill passed (but Obama hadn't even signed it), I found out that my health insurance is being dropped as of 12/31/2010.. It's a group plan. 700 people in it. I'm probably the only Poz person in it. So at the end of the year.. no more drugs, no more Doctors appts. Thank you Obama.