Action in the White House
In a statement in the East Room of the White House, U.S. President, that during this week said more than ninety telephone conversations and face to face with legislators to get their “yes”, said the vote tonight “answers the dreams of many. ” Tonight, he added, “we rise above politics. . . and show that we can do great things, “said the U.S. president, who in an allusion to his campaign slogan said” so it looks like change. ” The health reform had been throughout the last year his big legislative priority.
U.S. President before his statement that he had phoned to congratulate Pelosi said that “tonight we answered the call of history.” “Do not shirk our responsibilities, we embrace. Let us not shrink from the future, we have given way. ” Between the two votes, Congress had rejected a procedural motion filed late by Republican opposition, which introduced an amendment on abortion, one of the issues that had complicated the leaders of the Democratic majority to get the necessary votes for approval. Abortion, key Democrats are not assured the votes needed to pass the amendment until the leader of a group of half a dozen anti-abortion lawmakers who opposed the measure, Bart Stupak, announced in mid-afternoon it had reached a last-minute agreement with the White House and leaders of his party. Stupak called for assurances that the reform does not allow the use of federal funds for performing abortions.
The congressman rose to defend the measure tonight and ask for “no” to the Republican amendment against abortion, a move that earned him a shout of “murderer of babies” uttered by one of the lawmakers present in the courtroom. Through the agreement forged, Obama, issued an executive order that will clearly not be able to use these funds for voluntary termination of pregnancy unless extreme cases. The measure seeks to provide health coverage to nearly 30 million Americans who currently lack it. Among other things, the reform will prohibit insurers refuse to cover people who already suffer from illness and will mandatory for most residents to have health insurance.
San Jose Time