USA TODAY 2009.12.24 コメント
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid listens to Senator Max Baucus after the U.S. Senate approved President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Thursday.
Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill early today that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history. The
60-39 vote along party lines capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no." The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage. The Senate's bill must still be merged with legislation passed by the House before Obama could sign a final bill in the new year.