Breaking News: The House Vote on Health Care

The House of Representatives has approved an amendment that prohibits Federal funding for abortion with a few narrow exceptions. They are now voting on the Republican alternative bill which is purely a formality. The real nail biter will be when the vote is called for the main bill. It is not certain that enough Democrats are prepared to back it although some pro-life (there are a few) Democrats have indicated they would if abortion funding is excluded. It remains to be seen if enough moderate and pro-life Democrats will now vote for it.

Update: The GOP alternative bill has been voted down. No surprise.

Update: It looks like the GOP is trying to pull a rabbit out of their parliamentary hat. An amendment dealing with tort reform has been presented that was not expected. The Democrats sound ticked since they claim to have been given no notice. I think this is little more than a delaying tactic which will slow things up by perhaps 20 minutes in the end.

Update: The surprise GOP amendment has been voted down. The House is now voting on the health care bill amended to include severe restrictions on abortion funding.

Update: The House bill appears to have passed. It has the required 218 votes although a couple of members have not yet cast their votes. Very surprising is that a (one) Republican actually voted for the bill. If the bill passes with the bare minimum that could make life uncomfortable for the lone Republican supporter.

Final Update: The bill has passed 220-215 with one Republican voting for it and 39 Democrats voting no. The bill now goes to the Senate which is expected to move on their own bill in the near future. It seems exceedingly unlikely that the House bill with its robust public option will survive intact in a much more centrist body like the Senate. Assuming the Senate is able to pass a health care bill the two bills would then go to a conference committee where differences would be hammered out and a uniform bill then sent back to each house for an up or down vote.

The President's signature is not in doubt if a uniform bill is actually passed.