Mich. leaders split on health care reform

Town halls set as reps dig in on support, criticism of bill passed by House

Deb Price / The Detroit News

Washington -- The debate over a plan to overhaul the nation's health care system that passed the House this weekend is now headed to Michigan.

State Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, who had earlier signaled he would support the bill, is scheduled to hold town hall meetings in his district this week about the measure.

"(Saturday's) historic vote marks a major step towards repairing the economic damage done to families, seniors, businesses and the federal deficit under America's broken health care system. It lays the groundwork for long-term economic growth, and a stronger, healthier America," Schauer said.

The landmark plan would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years and extend insurance coverage to 36 million uninsured Americans.

Michigan's 15 House members split along party lines Saturday night on the health care bill that Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, praised for putting "us closer to the day when the cost of medical care no longer results in bankruptcy." Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, however, warned it would force Americans to "trade our family doctor for a Washington bureaucrat."

The bill passed 220-215 in a dramatic, unusual marathon that lasted deep into Saturday night, filled with passionate debate.

"With this historic vote, we are closer to bringing relief to American families who are forced to decide whether they will pay the mortgage or their health insurance premium," said Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, the lead sponsor of the legislation.

John Conyers, D-Detroit, said in a statement Saturday: "While the bill is far from perfect, I supported it because it will expand access to health insurance to 96 percent of Americans, end discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, help our seniors by closing the prescription drug benefit doughnut hole, and increase competition and choice with a public insurance option."

On Sunday, Conyers acknowledged the bill faces a renewed battle as it goes to the Senate. "There's going to be a continuation in the differing views to resolve the differences between the House bill and the Senate bill to be," he said.

President Barack Obama said as much Sunday.

Speaking from the Rose Garden about 14 hours after the late Saturday roll call, the president called it "a courageous vote."

But the votes had barely been counted when the White House turned its attention to an even bigger hurdle: getting legislation through the Senate.

In the Senate, where proposals differ substantially from the House-passed measure on issues like a government-run plan and how to pay for coverage, the bill is stalled while budget analysts assess its overall costs.

The slim margin in the House -- the bill passed with just two votes to spare, and 39 Democrats opposed it -- suggests even greater challenges in the Senate, where the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, is struggling to hold on to all 58 Democrats and two independents in his caucus.

If a government plan is part of the deal, "as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote," said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent whose vote Democrats need to overcome GOP filibusters. He appeared on "Fox News Sunday."

And on "Face the Nation, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said: "The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate."

Detroit News Staff Writer Mark Hicks and the Associated Press contributed.