Democrats in House Present $894 Billion Health Care Package
By Robert Pear
New York Times
10-29-09

House Democrats on Thursday unveiled an $894 billion package to remake the health care system, and celebrated by holding an outdoor rally at the Capitol where they asserted that tens of millions of Americans would soon gain affordable insurance...

..."It is with great pride and with great humility that we come before you to follow in the footsteps of those who gave our country Social Security and then Medicare - and now universal, quality, affordable health care for all Americans," Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a crowd of several hundred people.  Read full article

The bill expands Medicaid eligibility to 150% of the poverty line, and includes a public option requiring the government to negotiate rates with providers. Up to 35 or 36 million uninsured would gain coverage, leaving an estimated 12 million still without coverage.