House rejects Republican health overhaul bill as prelude to vote on Democratic plan

November 6th, 2009 Minnick to vote against House health care billBOISE, Idaho — U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick says he intends to vote against the health care reform bill coming up for a vote in the U.S.

November 5th, 2009 Seniors' lobby endorses House Dem health care billWASHINGTON — The AARP has officially endorsed the House Democratic health care bill, a major boost for the legislation two days before a historic vote. AARP Senior Policy Adviser John Rother said Thursday that the 40-million strong organization backs the House bill.

November 4th, 2009 House GOP health plan would cover relatively fewWASHINGTON — Congressional budget umpires say the House Republican health plan would only make a small dent in the number of uninsured Americans. In an analysis released late Wednesday, the Congressional Budget Office said the GOP plan would reduce the number of uninsured by 3 million.

November 4th, 2009 House Dems set stage for pivotal health voteWASHINGTON — House Democrats have cleared the way for a pivotal floor vote on health care overhaul as early as the weekend, after tweaking their 1,990-page bill to crack down harder on insurance companies. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Americans are ready for comprehensive reform in a statement accompanying dozens of last-minutes changes to the 10-year, $1.2 trillion bill.

November 2nd, 2009 New business coalition opposes House health billWASHINGTON — Eleven of the nation's largest business groups are beginning a multimillion-dollar TV ad campaign that says the health overhaul legislation in the House would raise taxes and worsen the economy without curbing medical expenses. "Over $500 billion in crushing tax increases.

November 2nd, 2009 GOP Rep: Health reform scarier than terrorismWASHINGTON — A Republican congresswoman said Monday that people have more to fear from Democratic health care legislation than from terrorists. Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina made the comments in a speech on the House floor Monday.

October 13th, 2009 Obama: Snowe 'diligent' in her work on health careWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is praising Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe for being "extraordinarily diligent" in working with Democrats on health care reform.

October 13th, 2009 GOP's Snowe voting for Democrats' health care billWASHINGTON — Forget Sarah Palin. The maverick female of the Republican Party is Maine Sen.

October 13th, 2009 AP Interview: Baucus unsure how Snowe would voteWASHINGTON — Sen. Max Baucus says he didn't know for sure that Republican Senator Olympia Snowe would vote in favor of his health care overhaul bill until she actually did so.

September 30th, 2009 Senators reject photo ID for health care benefitsWASHINGTON — Senators working on a health overhaul have rejected a Republican move to require photo identification for federal health benefits. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said his amendment would have helped cut fraud in health care programs for low-income people.

September 8th, 2009 Key Dem moderate turns against public planWASHINGTON — A leader of a pivotal group of moderate House Democrats says he can no longer support a new public insurance plan in a health overhaul bill. Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas made the announcement Tuesday as members of Congress returned from Washington after their August recess.

September 1st, 2009 Hoyer maintains support for public optionWALDORF, Md. — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told cheering and jeering constituents Tuesday he still supports a public health insurance option as part of a health care overhaul.

August 20th, 2009 Pelosi: House health bill needs public planSAN FRANCISCO — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says there's no way the House can pass a health overhaul bill that doesn't include a new public insurance plan. Her comments at a news conference Thursday in San Francisco come as the White House faces a liberal backlash for indicating openness to leaving a public plan out of a final health bill.

July 17th, 2009 House committee agrees to longer COBRA benefitsWASHINGTON — Lawmakers have amended a far-reaching health care overhaul bill to allow workers who lose their jobs to hang onto their employer-provided care until they get new coverage. The measure agreed to by voice vote in the House Education and Labor Committee affects the program known as COBRA.

June 27th, 2009 House rejects GOP energy alternativeWASHINGTON — The House has rejected a Republican alternative to a Democratic climate bill. The vote set the stage for passage of a bill that for the first time would limit U.S.