Local lawmakers reflect on vote

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Democrats voted 219-212 late Sunday to send legislation to President Barack Obama that would extend health care coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, reduce deficits and ban insurance company practices such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions.

The house was mostly split right down party lines, though some democrats were against the bill. Virginia Congressman Glenn Nye believes it could have a negative affect on Hampton Roads. Nye told WAVY.com the bill could take funding from children's hospitals and hurt Norfolk's Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.

He believes veterans could also take a hit. "I'm just concerned that this bill doesn't achieve the goals we set out in the reduction of medical care," said Nye.

Other Democrats say 32 million Americans who are uninsured will now be covered and are calling Sunday's vote historic.

"No longer will those without health care have to make co-payments for preventive services or go bankrupt because the bills provide affordable limits on co-pays and deductables," said Bobby Scott/(D) 3rd District.

Virginia's attorney general says he plans to sue the federal government, alleging that Congress has overreached its authority with its passage of federal health-insurance reform legislation.

Cuccinelli said in a statement Monday that his office plans to file its complaint in U.S. District Court as soon as President Barack Obama signs the measure into law.

A companion package making a series of changes sought by House Democrats to the larger bill, which already passed the Senate, was approved 220-211. The fix-it bill will now go to the Senate, where debate is expected to begin as early as Tuesday. Senate Democrats hope to approve it unchanged and send it directly to Obama, though Republicans intend to attempt parliamentary objections that could change the bill and require it to go back to the House.