WASHINGTON (KMOX/AP) -- Saturday's 220-215 House vote to approve a $1 trillion President Obama-supported health care reform package would expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry.
U.S. representatives from Missouri and Illinois mostly followed party lines, with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans against. The lone exception was Missouri Democrat Ike Skelton, who cast a "no" vote.
Skelton told reporters while the bill had some positives, he remains against a massive overhaul of the nation's healthcare system.
Illinois Republican John Shimkus (Collinsville) had this to say, "While I know that our current health insurance system is not perfect, I do not want to put our entire health care system under government control. Once the government is the only option, it will inevitably have to ration care."
KMOX also heard from two supporters. Democrat Lacy Clay of St. Louis said, "The U.S. House has taken a giant step forward toward the goal of making affordable, quality health care a reality for every American." But, he realizes passage in the Senate is uncertain, "I'm hoping we are able to get to a conference committee between the House and Senate before the end of this year."
Democrat Russ Carnahan of St. Louis said, "The legislation I supported builds upon what works and fixes what's broken. It puts patients and their doctors back in charge. It ensures that people happy with their coverage can keep it. And it gives those without insurance the power to choose the plan that is right for them, just as federal employees like me do."
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