Obama lauds ‘big victory’ for healthcare

President Barack Obama said Democrats had “scored a big victory for the American people” hours after a key Senate healthcare vote.

Speaking at the White House, Obama thanked Senate Democrats after they “knocked down a filibuster” by winning the 60 votes necessary to move the controversial bill forward. He hailed the procedural victory as a “historic vote.”

Obama hailed the bill’s price tag, which the Congressional Budget Office has estimated would lead to $871 billion in new spending over 10 years. CBO also estimated those costs would be more than offset by cuts to Medicare and new taxes and fees allowed under the bill.

Obama said the score shows those “continually carping about how this is a big-government spending bill” are incorrect.

“That argument that opponents are making against this bill does not hold water,” Obama said.

He also lauded the bill for including a patients' bill of rights.

The White House has come under criticism from liberals for not fighting hard to preserve a public health insurance option in the bill.

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