11/8/09 HC Reform Update by Mark Sanna: After a daylong clash with Republicans over what has been a Democratic goal for decades, lawmakers voted 220 to 215 to approve a plan that would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years. Democrats were forced to make major concessions on insurance coverage for abortions to attract the final votes to secure passage. Democrats say the House measure paid for through new fees and taxes, along with cuts in Medicare would extend coverage to 36 million people now without insurance while creating a government health insurance program. It would end insurance company practices like not covering pre-existing conditions or dropping people when they become ill.