Republicans force new vote on Obama health care bill
Sunday, 28 March 2010
The surprise decision set the stage for another contentious ballot in the House, which narrowly passed the measure amid acrimonious scenes Sunday, reports Internet.
It means the finishing touches to the bill signed into law by the president on Tuesday could be delayed until the weekend.
The new vote was forced when Alan Frumin, the Senate Parliamentarian, upheld Republican challenges linked to the package's overhaul of university finance. Two points relating to student loans were found to violate Senate procedure despite being described as "relatively minor provisions".
The setback for Democrats came as the FBI and police were called in after Democrats received violent threats and obscene and abusive messages after the bill was passed.
Steny Hoyer, the Democratic House Majority Leader, said that more than 10 members had reported "very serious" incidents since the vote.
Representative Bart Stupak, who brokered the crucial deal that led to some fellow anti-abortion Democrats backing the legislation, received a fax with a noose and the caption "all Baby Killers come to unseemly ends either by the hand of man or by the Hand of God".
Mr Obama flew to Iowa for a rally yesterday in an attempt to sell the merits of the bill to the American people.
It means the finishing touches to the bill signed into law by the president on Tuesday could be delayed until the weekend.
The new vote was forced when Alan Frumin, the Senate Parliamentarian, upheld Republican challenges linked to the package's overhaul of university finance. Two points relating to student loans were found to violate Senate procedure despite being described as "relatively minor provisions".
The setback for Democrats came as the FBI and police were called in after Democrats received violent threats and obscene and abusive messages after the bill was passed.
Steny Hoyer, the Democratic House Majority Leader, said that more than 10 members had reported "very serious" incidents since the vote.
Representative Bart Stupak, who brokered the crucial deal that led to some fellow anti-abortion Democrats backing the legislation, received a fax with a noose and the caption "all Baby Killers come to unseemly ends either by the hand of man or by the Hand of God".
Mr Obama flew to Iowa for a rally yesterday in an attempt to sell the merits of the bill to the American people.