Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin):

“The Senate health care bill is far from perfect. I am deeply disappointed it does not include a public option to help keep down costs and I also don't like the deal making that secured votes with unjustifiable provisions. I will work to improve the bill, including restoring the public option, when the final version is drafted.

“But, while this bill could and should have been much stronger, it includes very important provisions for Wisconsin that I worked to include. The bill will bring more Medicare dollars to Wisconsin by improving the unfair reimbursement formula that has siphoned money away from the state for years, and by rewarding the high-quality, low-cost care practiced at places like Gundersen Lutheran and the Marshfield Clinic. Wisconsin taxpayers also win because we will see a boost in Medicaid funding, so our state isn't harshly penalized for its leadership in expanding coverage. The bill also ends discrimination by insurance companies against people with preexisting conditions, expands coverage to 30 million more Americans and reduces the deficit by an estimated $132 billion. Despite the bill's flaws, it does meet the test of real reform, and the cost of inaction was much too high.”

RNC Chairman Michael Steele:

“This morning, as millions of Americans prepared to gather with their families in celebration of Christmas, President Obama and Harry Reid gathered with their liberal allies in celebration of government. Mr. Reid and company honored President Obama's Christmas wish for increased federal control and passed their government-run health care experiment out of the Senate. Immediately following this vote, in a telling and strangely ironic legislative move, the Democrats voted to increase America's credit card limit because even they know their deficit reduction claims are false. If they were truly proud of this so-called ‘historic' legislation then they should have stood by their pledge and allowed Senators and the American people 72 hours to read the full legislative text prior to voting instead of secretly rushing it through on Christmas Eve. In fact, most Democrats aren't proud of this legislation and only voted for it after months of closed door meetings, back room deal making, and political compromise with Harry Reid and the White House. The Democrats have put a $2.5 trillion lump of coal in the stocking of every American knowing that their risky health care experiment still increases premiums, still cuts Medicare, and still enacts hundreds of billions of new taxes to pay for it. Scrooge would be proud. I know a majority of Americans are not. As we move forward, America can look forward to watching Nancy Pelosi conduct the arm-twisting needed to convince her most liberal colleagues that the Senate version is the best Trojan horse possible to hide a true single payer system, which is what this debate has always been about. This Christmas, the Democrats and President Obama have given America the one gift that keeps on taking.”

Senator Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas):

Every day I hear from Arkansans concerned about the skyrocketing costs of health care and the drain these costs are having on their health, wallets, and businesses. Addressing rising costs and deplorable insurance company practices requires more than a band-aid approach; it requires meaningful reform. Throughout this lengthy debate, I have said any reform must make coverage more affordable, reliable and accessible without breaking the bank, and I believe the Senate legislation achieves these goals.

Elements of this package will drive down costs for families, small businesses, and government; protect and expand an individual's choice of doctors and insurance plans without any government interference; and assure affordable, reliable healthcare for every Arkansan. That means ending unfair insurance company practices, such as dropping patients when they get sick or denying them coverage based on a preexisting condition. It eliminates the $1,000 a year “hidden tax” that every insured Arkansas family has to pay for those who do not have insurance. This tax cost Arkansans a total of $656 million last year. This legislation also strengthens Medicare by reducing waste and fraud in the program, protecting benefits for seniors, closing the gap in prescription drug coverage, and improving the program's long-term fiscal outlook. I'm pleased we also make a strong commitment to ensure residents living in rural parts of Arkansas have better access to doctors, nurses and high-quality health care. In addition, this plan increases competition by allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines.

This legislation lays the foundation for more affordable, reliable and accessible health care in Arkansas, and I believe it is in the best interests of our state and country. I have chosen this path over the cost of inaction: millions of uninsured Americans, skyrocketing health costs for the average family and business, profit-driven insurance company decisions, and higher government spending. With this bill, we are taking our country a great leap forward to ensure a healthier, stronger America.

Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner:

“Not even Ebenezer Scrooge himself could devise a scheme as cruel and greedy as Democrats' government takeover of health care.

“Senator Reid's health care bill increases premiums for families and small businesses, raises taxes during a recession, cuts seniors' Medicare benefits, adds to our skyrocketing debt, and puts bureaucrats in charge of decisions that should be made by patients and doctors. The bill also authorizes taxpayer-funded abortions, violating long-standing federal policy. It's no coincidence that the more the American people learn about this monstrosity, the more they oppose it.

“This legislation is so toxic that Senator Reid needed to pull off a series of outrageous payoffs, kickbacks and sweetheart deals just to get the votes of members of his own party. The way in which Senate Democrats turned their backs on American families and put their votes on the auction block is a disgrace to our country.

“President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Senator Reid will now hammer out a final bill in secret, despite campaign promises and pledges of the most ‘open and honest' Congress in history. The American people don't want the future of their health care being decided behind closed doors by three liberal Washington Democrats. That's why they need to fight harder than ever, speaking loudly and with one voice, saying ‘stop.'

“While struggling families have been asking ‘where are the jobs?' Democrats have spent the better part of the past seven months focused on this government takeover of health care. In that time, unemployment has risen to double-digits and the national debt has topped $12 trillion for the first time in U.S. history. Republicans are focused on offering better solutions to help put people back to work, reduce the deficit, and get government out of the bailout business once and for all. We have also proposed the only health care bill that would reduce premiums by up to 10 percent and consistently reduce federal spending on health care over the next two decades.”

Senator Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia):

“An Old Arab proverb says, ‘He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.'”

“I believe these words to be true. Such words have driven me throughout my long career to improve the state's health-care infrastructure and delivery system. We all know too well that while sources of distinctiveness and pride, the remoteness and ruggedness of much of West Virginia has resulted in the state's consistently ranking high in incidences of disease, injury, and poor health behaviors. In my continued quest to give substance to my vision of better health care for all West Virginians, I proudly cast my vote in support of this bill.”

“I have long advocated for expanding access to affordable, basic health care services for all West Virginians, regardless of income. This bill furthers that goal. It will expand coverage to West Virginians who otherwise could not afford insurance. It will reduce costs for families, particularly drug costs for seniors, and insurance costs for small businesses. It will provide cost savings that more than pay for these initiatives in the decades to come. It will help to reform unfair health insurance practices, so that insurance companies cannot escape their responsibilities when West Virginians need their health insurance most. I believe that in the decades to come, Americans will look back on this legislation, as they do on the Social Security and Medicare programs, as fundamental government services deserving broad and bipartisan support.”

“And my best wishes for a joyous and healthy holiday season to all.”

Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming):

“The Senate today passed a healthcare bill that represents politics at its worst. Promises of transparency, fiscal discipline and thoughtful policy debates were replaced with closed door meetings, billion dollar pay offs and partisan tactics.

“Instead of helping more Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health care, this 2700 page bill cuts Medicare, increases taxes, raises insurance premiums and burdens our grandchildren with even more debt.

“There is no reason to rush legislation that will impact one sixth of our economy and affect the health of each American.

“After practicing medicine for over 25 years, I know that this bill will not deliver better care to folks in Wyoming and across America. As this legislation moves to the House, I will continue to speak out against it and do everything possible to ensure that Congress finally passes reform that will increase the quality, availability and affordability of healthcare in our country.”

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio):

“American families know first-hand that health insurance premiums have been skyrocketing,” Brown said. “This bill will lower costs for middle class families with insurance, while providing help to 31 million Americans who lack it. And insurers will have to play by a new set of rules, including an immediate ban on pre-existing condition exclusions for children.

“The bill also invests in small businesses – providing an immediate tax credit to help employers cover their workers. If we're going to rebuild our economy, we need to ensure that small businesses – which create more than 64 percent of our nation's jobs – are not crushed by exploding health costs.

“Seniors on Medicare will see their prescription drug costs cut in half and, for the first time, will have access to free annual check-ups and screenings. The bill, which has been endorsed by AARP, also extends Medicare's solvency by nearly a decade.

“This bill means Americans will have affordable insurance options if they change or lose their jobs. It means an end to insurance industry practices that cut off access to medically-necessary care or discriminate against women or individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. It means insurance companies will have to spend premium dollars on medical care – rather than on lavish sales trips and exorbitant CEO salaries – or else give rebates to consumers.

“When it comes to health care, the cost of inaction is simply too high. More than 390 Ohioans lose their health insurance every day. Small businesses and the self-employed can pay double or triple what large businesses pay for coverage. By 2007, 62% of bankruptcies were due to medical costs. And forty-five thousand Americans die each year because they are uninsured and can't get the care they need.

“American families can't have economic security if they're one hospital visit away from financial ruin. And American businesses can't attract the brightest minds or compete globally if they're saddled with unaffordable health insurance rates. American families and businesses deserve more affordable and dependable health insurance, and this morning's vote moves us one step closer to that goal.

“The bill we are considering is not perfect by any means, and there are plenty of areas where it falls short of what I would like to accomplish. But there are about 31 million reasons to support it. ”

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska):

"President Obama promised that health care reform would slow the growth of health care costs, reduce premiums and not raise taxes on the middle class. He also said the debate would be open and above board, even broadcast on C-SPAN, though this bill was written in secret, behind the closed doors of the Majority Leader's office. Those promises sounded good when the President made them, but ring hollow now with the passage of a partisan bill that increases the role of the federal government in health care, worsens conditions for Medicare patients, raises taxes and insurance premiums and does nothing to bend down the cost curve.

"I could not support legislation that would cause health care costs and insurance premiums to rise, as this bill does, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. The CBO said that premiums for individuals without employer-sponsored coverage would rise between 10 and 13 percent, which in Alaska could affect up to 28,000 people. The University of Alaska at Anchorage's Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), which reviewed the legislation at my request, concluded that premiums would rise roughly 12 percent, or a net increase of $1,160 for some individuals and $2,950 for some families in Alaska. Although subsidies would be available to help offset the cost, it is unclear from the bill who in Alaska would be eligible to receive them.

"Another major concern is that the bill would impose a 40 percent excise tax on high value insurance plans. Because Alaska is a high cost state, ISER predicts that roughly 50 percent of health plans in the state would be subject to the tax by 2016 compared to only 19 percent average in the Lower 48. Last week, I received a report from the Municipality of Anchorage Police and Fire Retiree Medical Trust saying that the insurance plans provided to its members would be subject to this 40 percent excise tax.

"The bill also does nothing to fix the Medicare reimbursement rate inequity for Alaska. Alaska is already a state in crisis when it comes to Medicare patients getting access to primary care doctors, so cutting a half trillion dollars out of the Medicare program, which is projected to become insolvent within seven years, would further exacerbate the access problem.

"A poll was released this week that bears out the hundreds of emails, faxes and phone calls I have received recently from constituents who are opposed to the health care bill. The statewide Dittman Research poll of 393 registered voters in Alaska showed that 57 percent of respondents oppose congressional health care legislation; 64 percent expect costs to increase and 60 percent expect the quality of care to decline if the bill becomes law; and 59 percent want the congressional delegation to oppose the bill. Those are pretty convincing numbers.

"It's unfortunate that we did not pass a bill that was truly bipartisan, one that would take a step-by-step approach and focus on such things as banning lifetime caps on insurance, coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions, enacting junk lawsuit reforms and allowing insurers to sell across state lines."

Senator Roland Burris (D-Illinois):

"Today, we have come further than any Congress in history. For years, we have known that the American healthcare system is badly broken. Now, after nearly a century of discussion and debate, after a hundred years of delays and false starts , we can look the American people in the eyes and tell them we fought on their behalf and won."

"While this bill is far from perfect, it is an important step in the right direction, and a solid foundation to be built upon to ensure that every American has quality, affordable health insurance. As we continue to move forward to the next steps of conference committee and final passage, I will continue to advocate for greater cost controls, increased competition for consumers, and holding the insurance industry accountable."

Senator Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota):

“America's health care system is in need of serious reform. Skyrocketing costs are putting enormous pressure on families and businesses in North Dakota and across the nation. Continuing the status quo is not an option. America can do better. And this bill proves it.”

Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon):

“We've always known that the path to reforming the nation's health care system was going to be long and it wasn't going to be easy, but this legislation takes a significant step in the right direction.

So while it's important to celebrate how far we've come, let's remember this is only a start. This legislation creates exchanges that we must expand access to. It puts in place insurance market reforms that we have to make certain get enforced and it gives choice and competition a new foothold that we will build on until every American has the power to choose the health insurance that works best for them and their family. I pledge to continue this effort in the days ahead as we work to reconcile this legislation with the House and in the months and years ahead as our legislative effort continues.”