House Passes Health Care Act

The AAJ reported today that the House passed the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act. This was a 220-215 margin. “Rep. Joseph Cao (LA) was the lone Republican to join 219 Democrats in supporting the bill, while 39 Democrats joined 176 Republicans in opposing it. About an hour earlier, the Republican alternative plan sponsored by Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) was rejected on a vote of 258-176, completely along party lines with the exception of GOP Rep. Timothy Johnson’s (IL) vote against his party’s measure.”

“The Washington Post (11/9) editorialized that the GOP House healthcare bill “would change the medical malpractice system — a good idea, but done in the wrong way. The measure would limit damages for pain and suffering to $250,000, along with imposing limits on punitive damages.” The Post argues, “There are better approaches to tort reform than replacing an arbitrary and irrational system with arbitrary and irrational limits.’ “