Nov 7, 2009 1:47 pm US/Eastern
Health Bill Clears First Hurdle In House
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
President Barack Obama's health care initiative has cleared its first big hurdle in the House, with lawmakers voting to advance the debate.
The House voted 242-192 in favor of a must-pass procedural measure setting the terms for the debate. All 177 Republicans, joined by Democrats, voted to block the debate.
With Obama urging them on in a rare personal visit to Capitol Hill, Democrats pushed toward a final vote late Saturday on the bill, which would reshape the U.S. health care system and extend coverage to millions of the uninsured.
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