Conn. Reps Vote 'Yes' To Health Care Reform Bill

Bill Passes With 219-212 Vote In House

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The five members of Connecticut's Congressional delegation voted "yes" to the health care reform bill on Sunday.

John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes and Chris Murphy voted in favor of the historic bill.

"Whatever you think of this bill, it is a history-making moment," Himes, D-4th District, said. "We are joining the rest of the industrialized nations in the world in saying to each and every one of our citizens, 'We are going to provide you with a basic level of health care coverage,' and that's an exciting moment for this country."

Murphy acknowledged that the bill has garnered much opposition.

"There's a lot of passion for this bill, there's a lot of passion against it. As we explain the benefits to people, as we explain what it will mean to the average person who will get cheaper health care and much more fair health care as it transfers power from insurers to regular people, this bill will get converts," Murphy said. "It's going to be my job to support it and to go out and explain the benefits to people after tonight."

The bill passed Sunday night with a 219-212 vote in the House.

The major expansion of coverage to 32 million people -- powered by subsidies, employer obligations, a mandate for most Americans to carry insurance, new places to buy it and rules barring insurance companies from turning sick people away -- is four years out.

We rose above the weight of our politics," Obama said late Sunday night in relishing the House victory on a 219-212 vote. "We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things."