Obama's health care reform becomes law

"Today, after almost a century of trying … after over a year of debate … after all the votes have been tallied … health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America."

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed into law a landmark health care reform bill, ending a divisive debate that could define the November congressional elections.

The law brings near-universal coverage over a 4-year period to about 94 per cent of eligible non-elderly Americans.

"We have now just enshrined the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health," Obama said at a signing ceremony at the White House.

"We are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. We are not a nation that falls prey to doubt or mistrust...That's not who we are. That's not how we got here," the president said.

The plan will extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, reduce federal budget deficits and ban insurance companies from denying coverage to people with existing medical problems.

Obama has pushed health care as his top priority since taking office in January 2009.

Failure would have weakened him and endangered other issues on the president's domestic agenda, including immigration reform and climate change legislation.

Republicans were united in opposition to Obama plan, calling it a costly government takeover. They are hoping the issue would give them the opportunity to regain control of Congress in November's elections.

"By signing this bill, President Obama is abandoning our founding principle that government governs best when it governs closest to the people," said House Republican leader John Boehner.

"Never before has such a monumental change to our government been carried out without the support of both parties."

Shortly after Obama signed the bill, attorneys general from 13 states - mostly Republican - said they are suing the federal government to stop the health care overhaul.

Their argument is that the provision that requires Americans to carry health insurance is unconstitutional.

But experts say the effort will likely fail because the U.S. Constitution states that federal law supersedes state laws. The Republicans are aware of this but hope that the legal challenge will keep the issue fresh in the mind of voters who will pass judgment on the issue in November's election.

Obama begins the marketing on his health care reform on Thursday in Iowa City, Iowa, where he announced his plan in May 2007 when he was a presidential candidate.

The House of Representatives passed the 10-year, US$938 billion bill Sunday night after a rancorous debate. Not one Republican voted for the bill. Some Democrats also voted against it.

It's the biggest expansion of the U.S. federal government's social safety net since President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted government's Medicare and Medicaid health care coverage programs for the elderly and poor.

-Associated Press (AP) report