Senator Dianne Feinstein reacts to passage of Senate health care bill
Senate Democratic Leaders celebrate passage of health care bill
The US Senate met on Christmas Eve for the first time since 1963 . Early this morning, they passed a historic health care measure. Now they fly home to face the voters.
The health care bill has critics on both the right and the left.
Progressives complain it doesn’t contain a public option. Conservatives complain the 871 billion dollar price tag over ten years is too expensive.
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein says she’ll tell unhappy constituents that the measure is a huge step ahead, offering coverage to all Americans, even those with pre-existing conditions.
"There are a lot of details in the bill," she says. "There’s a lot that’s going to be settled or changed in conference because the bill between the House and the Senate are different. So it’s not a done situation yet. That’s what I’m going to tell them."
Two California Congressmen, Democrats Henry Waxman of Los Angeles and George Miller of the Bay area, will be negotiating behind closed doors to resolve differences between the House and Senate health care bills.
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