Yarmuth Expects Healthcare Legislation This Year

The House of Representatives will begin debating health care overhaul legislation this week.HR 3962 was introduced last Friday. After a three day reading period it will go to the floor of the House. Third District Congressman John Yarmuth of Louisville says he expects it to pass on Friday with no Republican support.It will then be reconciled with whatever legislation the Senate passes in the coming weeks. Yarmuth says the House's plan and most of the Senate bills are fairly similar, but differ in how a healthcare overhaul will be paid for."The Senate taxes high-end insurance plans, the premium ones, high-end plans," he says. "We have a surcharge on the wealthiest .3 of 1 percent of Americans. Those making over a half-million dollars a year or a million dollars per household."Yarmuth says he's expecting final legislation to clear both chambers by the end of the year. Republicans contend the Democratic bills would place too much of an additional financial burden on the government.