The Senate held the final vote needed to pass the health care bill or H.R. 3590.  The vote was 60 - 39 .  The total cost of the bill is $871 billion.  Democrats with Vice President Biden presiding over the Senate passed the bill along party lines as expected.  All Senators voted from their seats in the Senate.  There were a couple moments of levity when Sen. Reid of Nevada was asked for his vote Reid gave an exasperated gesture that indicated of course and the entire Senate broke into laughter as if there was a chance that the Leader would vote anything other than “Aye” or yes.  Also, Bernie Sanders of Vermont gave a very enthusiastic “AYE” sending the Senate into laughter a second time. 

Now they go to conference and hopefully this bill will be drastically improved.   Right now the bill does not make health insurance affordable and that needs major adjustmances that will hopefully be accomplished during reconciliation.  Three major points of contention: 1) public option 2) removal of the antitrust exemption enjoyed by the insurance industry 3) an immediate implementation date.