Obama hails `historic step' on health care changes (Update 2)

Obama hails `historic step' on health care changes

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are looking ahead to a health care showdown on the House floor in September following a key committee's passage of sweeping overhaul legislation.

"This historic step," Obama said, "moves us closer to health insurance reform than we have ever been before."

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The vote came after weeks of negotiations finally satisfied concerns raised by fiscally conservative Democrats — only to produce a compromise that riled liberals.

The liberal opposition was quieted with a last-minute series of changes agreed to early Friday that included limiting how much insurers can raise premiums, and giving the federal government authority to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower prices under Medicare.

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The 31-to-28 vote occurred at 9:05 p.m. Friday, at the end of a session that began at 10 a.m. Five Democrats joined all 23 Republicans on the panel in voting no.

The Democrats who opposed the final bill were Reps. Jim Matheson, of Utah; John Barrow, of Georgia; Rick Boucher, of Virginia; Charlie Melancon, of Louisiana; and Bart Stupak, of Michigan.