Congress Approves Final Healthcare Bill Changes Friday, March 26, 2010
The U.S. Congress approved a package of final changes to President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare overhaul Thursday, and Obama dared Republicans to try to repeal the new law.
The House put the finishing touches on the overhaul by passing a companion package that would make insurance more affordable, raise taxes on the wealthy and close a gap for prescription drug coverage for seniors.
The Senate approved the package earlier in the day. It now goes to Obama to sign.
Obama, launching a public relations blitz to sell the new program, mocked his Republican critics and said their promise to make repeal of the law the centerpiece of the congressional campaign would backfire.
"If they want to have that fight, I welcome that fight,'' Obama said in Iowa City, Iowa, in his first major speech since signing the law Tuesday.
"I don't believe the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver's seat. We've been there already and we're not going back,'' he said.