House approves sweeping healthcare reform

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. House Saturday night narrowly passed a sweeping overhaul of the healthcare system that backers say would provide coverage to almost all Americans.

The measure passed 220-215 about 11:15 p.m. after a day of intense lobbying, including a visit to the U.S. Capitol by President Barack Obama, who has made healthcare reform his top priority.

"For generations, the American people have called for affordable, quality healthcare for their families," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said on the House floor before the vote. "Today, the call will be answered."

The first major reform of the U.S. healthcare system in four decades would provide insurance to 36 million more Americans, so 96 percent of the nation's population would be covered, supporters said. The plan, which would cost more than $1 trillion over a decade, would add a government-run health insurance option and provide subsidies for poor people to buy insurance.

The House measure has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, who say it would amount to a government takeover of healthcare and reduce the quality of care.

"This is one of those bills that takes a system that is the best in the world and will turn it on its head, and I don't believe this is what the American people want," said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee. "To me, this doesn't make any sense and I know it doesn't make any sense to the vast majority of people out there."

Obama and Democratic supporters in Congress, however, say the bill would reduce costs and improve care.

In a statement Saturday night, Obama called the vote "historic" and added, "The House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people."

The reform measure would limit how much people can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses. And it would forbid insurance companies to cancel coverage because someone gets sick, deny coverage because of a pre-existing condition or put annual or lifetime caps on coverage.

The measure would be paid for through added fees, tax increases and some cuts in Medicare.

An alternative Republican healthcare plan failed Saturday.

Democrats agreed late Friday to allow members of the party who oppose abortion to offer an amendment that would effectively block federal funds from being used for the procedure. The amendment would ban the "public option" plan from covering abortions and bar anyone getting a subsidy for insurance from buying a private plan that pays for them.

Hasan taken off ventilator

FORT HOOD, Texas, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the U.S. Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 fellow military members at Fort Hood, has been taken off a ventilator, the Army said.

Hasan remains in intensive care at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Fort Hood spokesman Col. John Rossi told reporters Saturday.

Rossi said he does not know if Hasan can communicate.

Hasan, 39, was shot four times by two civilian officers after he allegedly opened fire with two handguns Thursday. A dozen people died soon after being shot, and one died later in a hospital, officials said, while 38 were wounded.

Rossi said 17 victims remain hospitalized.

Mayor, 11 others killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The Taliban have claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed a local mayor and 11 others in northwest Pakistan Sunday.

Mayor Abdul Malik, of Matni, was outside his home when a car drove up and detonated 22 pounds of explosives, District Coordination officer Shahibzada Anis Khan told CNN.

Malik's son was critically injured and a young girl and five young men were among those killed in the bombing, authorities said. At least 36 people were injured in the attack on the outskirts of Peshawar.

A local Taliban leader told CNN there had been several attempts to kill Malik, who was in charge of organizing volunteers in Matni to fight militants.

Until a couple of years ago, Malik supported the Taliban and then switched sides after disagreeing with Taliban strategies, especially the targeting of civilians, a senior government official told CNN.

Thousands remember Yitzhak Rabin

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was remembered Sunday as a man of reason who sought peace with the Palestinians, officials said.

Thousands of Israelis attended a rally in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv on the 14th anniversary of Rabin's death.

The rally occurred at the site where Rabin was fatally shot during a peace demonstration in 1995. He was killed by an Orthodox Jew who opposed Rabin's policy of trading land for peace with the Palestinians.

In a video message to the crowd Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama called Rabin a brave soldier who believed the "only battle that is a pleasure to wage is the battle for peace."

Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was with Rabin the night he died, told the crowd Rabin's quest for peace must live on, Voice of America reported.

Peres urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to reconsider his decision not to seek re-election in January. Abbas has said he would step down because of Israel's failure to advance the peace process.

Hurricane Ida nears Cuba

MIAMI, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Hurricane Ida grew in strength Sunday as it neared the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and was expected to pass by Cuba, officials said.

The Category 1 hurricane had sustained winds of 90 mph and was moving northwest at 12 mph, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Ida was expected to grow into a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds by Monday as it moved toward the U.S. coastline, forecasters said. The storm was expected to weaken Tuesday and Wednesday but pass close to Mississippi and Louisiana, bringing high surf and heavy rain.

Sunday, a hurricane warning was in effect for the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Playa del Carmen to Cabo Catoche, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Grand Cayman Island and the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International
All Rights Reserved.