Obama praises 'courageous' health vote

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. lawmakers who voted for a healthcare reform bill in the House of Representatives are "courageous," President Barack Obama said Sunday.

Speaking in the Rose Garden at the White House, Obama praised the House members who enabled the healthcare package to pass by a narrow 220-215 margin, enabling it to advance to the U.S. Senate, saying, "Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation I know that this was a courageous vote for many members of Congress, and I'm grateful to them and for the rest of their colleagues for taking us this far."

Looking ahead to a tough fight in the upper chamber, Obama added, "Now it falls on the United States Senate to take the baton and take this effort to the finish line for the American people."

The measure passed Saturday night after a day of intense lobbying, including a visit to the U.S. Capitol by Obama, who has made healthcare reform his top priority.

"For generations, the American people have called for affordable, quality healthcare for their families," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said on the House floor before the vote. "Today, the call will be answered."

The first major reform of the U.S. healthcare system in four decades would provide insurance to 36 million more Americans, so 96 percent of the nation's population would be covered, supporters said. The plan, which would cost more than $1 trillion over a decade, would add a government-run health insurance option and provide subsidies for poor people to buy insurance.

The House measure has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, who say it would amount to a government takeover of healthcare and reduce the quality of care.

"This is one of those bills that takes a system that is the best in the world and will turn it on its head, and I don't believe this is what the American people want," said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee. "To me, this doesn't make any sense and I know it doesn't make any sense to the vast majority of people out there."

Obama and Democratic supporters in Congress, however, say the bill would reduce costs and improve care.

The reform measure would limit how much people can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. And it would forbid insurance companies to cancel coverage because someone gets sick, deny coverage because of a pre-existing condition or put annual or lifetime caps on coverage.