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Obama praises 'courageous' health vote

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. lawmakers who voted for a healthcare reform bill in the House of Representatives are President Barack Obama said Sunday.

Speaking in the Rose Garden at the White House, Obama praised the House members who enabled the healthcare package to pass by a narrow 220-215 margin, enabling it to advance to the U.S. Senate, saying,

Looking ahead to a tough fight in the upper chamber, Obama added,

The measure passed Saturday night after a day of intense lobbying, including a visit to the U.S. Capitol by Obama, who has made healthcare reform his top priority.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said on the House floor before the vote.

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.

said Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

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

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.

Graham: House health bill 'dead' in Senate

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The healthcare reform bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives is in the Senate, a senior Republican said Sunday.

Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-N.C., said on CBS's that the House bill after passing by just two votes over the opposition of all Republicans and 39 Democrats.

Graham said,

Graham said independent-minded lawmakers such as Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, a former Democrat,

The measure passed 220-215 Saturday night 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.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said on the House floor before the vote.

Concern for Muslim U.S. soldiers 'real'

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army chief says there are about a backlash toward Muslim U.S. soldiers following last week's mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas.

emerging about the background of the suspected shooter, 39-year-old Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan, have led some to worry about the safety of other Muslims serving in the armed forces, and Army Chief of Staff Gen. William Casey told NBC's Sunday.

Casey said on the program.

Hasan, accused of killing 13 fellow military members at Fort Hood, has been taken off a ventilator, the Army said Saturday. He remains in intensive care at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Fort Hood spokesman Col. John Rossi told reporters.

Philly strike negotiations break down

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The six-day strike by Philadelphia-area transportation workers will likely continue after negotiations broke down during the weekend, observers say.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on Saturday blamed the leadership of Transport Workers Union Local 234 for the breakdown of talks to end the strike against the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The newspaper said Rendell demanded a rank-and-file membership vote on a proposed contract settlement, which union leadership dismissed because its executive committee had rejected the offer.

Local 234 president Willie Brown told the Inquirer.

Smith reportedly said Rendell's demand was merely an effort to divide the union.

But Rendell told reporters Saturday that the union made new demands after a handshake agreement was announced Friday, including a call for an independent audit of the SEPTA pension plan, which the union contends is underfunded and mismanaged.

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