Pelosi Unveils House Health Care Bill

The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi of California, on Thursday unveiled a $894 billion health care package that would provide insurance to up to 36 million people by broadly expanding Medicaid, the state-federal insurance program for the poor, and by offering subsidies to moderate-income Americans to buy insurance either from private carriers or a new government-run plan.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would reduce future federal deficits by about $30 million over the next 10 years, meeting President Obama’s demand that the health legislation not add “one dime” to the nation’s indebtedness.

At a rally to unveil the bill, Ms. Pelosi said: “This an historic moment for our nation and families. For nearly a century, leaders of every party and political philosophy have fought for health insurance reform.”

NyTimes
10/29/9