(Thumbnail image from wktv.com)
After nearly a century of false starts and fierce debate, health care reform passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a late-night vote.
The final vote included 219 yes-votes by Democrats and one vote of support from freshman Republican Joseph Cao of Louisiana.
The bill is expected to cost around one trillion dollars and cover 36 million more people, bringing the total percentage of insured Americans up to 96 percent.
But this isn't the end of the road for health care overhaul. We’re taking a look at what’s next for reform with perspectives from ABC News, CNN, BBC News and NPR
Democratic Party leader Tim Kaine tells ABC's George Stephanopoulos the vote means savings for Americans and a victory for the left.
"It provides a path to affordable coverage for uninsured Americans for the first time in the history of this country. And then it does significant work to try to break the unsustainable growth of health care costs, that is breaking the bank for families and businesses. We think that this was a big and historic win."
On CNN's State of the Union, Republican strategist Mary Matalin says Pelosi's health care victory may come at a cost to conservative Democrats in next year's elections.
"She made these these conservative Democrats walk the plank just like the whole cap and trade thing, and they'll get slammed for that vote, which is not going to be what the final package looks like anyways, but the bottom line is that they got it this far does not mean there will be progress in health care? Just quite the opposite."
The win didn't come without compromise. BBC News pinpoints abortion as the major sticking point.
“One key concession to get the bill through was to anti-abortion legislators. An amendment was passed that prohibits coverage for abortion in the government-run programme except for rape, incest or if the mother’s life is threatened. Private plans can still offer the cover.”
Even with the compromises in the House, it will be an uphill battle to pass health care in the Senate. National Public Radio says Democratic leader Harry Reid will have his hands full pushing his plan and finding a compromise that will bring in a filibuster-proof 60 votes.
“Reid must first reconcile two competing Senate health care bills in the weeks ahead before moving to a vote. Then the House bill and any health care legislation from the Senate would have to be merged by a joint congressional committee before being sent to President Obama for his signature.”
Finally, on CBS' "Face the Nation," conservative commentator Ed Rollins has a more pessimistic view. He says the Democrats shouldn't count their votes before they're cast.
"This bill will not pass. I promise you that. No offense to you who voted for it. It wouldn't get 50 votes in the Senate today."
So what do you think? Will Democrats get the needed votes in the Senate, or will health care stay wrapped up in political wrangling?
