Health Care Bill Passes House in 219-212 Vote

Updated from 3:27 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (TheStreet) -- The House of Representatives on late Sunday voted to approve a health care reform bill in a 219-212 vote with no Republican support.

The bill, passed by the Senate in December, will now go to President Obama for his signature. A second bill, making amendments to the Senate version, was passed by the House a short time later. It now heads to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass, before being sent to the president's desk.

Obama is expected to sign the bill as early as Tuesday, the The Associated Press reported, citing Congressional officials. The historic effort, which for a year has been the focus of bitter partisan debate, fulfills a primary campaign pledge by Obama.

Passage of the legislation was made possible by a deal Obama and House Democratic leaders cut with anti-abortion members of their own party who wanted assurance that no federal money would be used for elective abortions.

Obama appeased the group by issuing an executive order.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D., Mich.) pledged his support for the legislation after earlier leading the anti-abortion opposition.

The Democrats needed at least 216 votes for each of the items on Sunday's agenda.

Earlier, in a show of confidence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) led Democrats across the street to the Capitol from their final caucus before the vote carrying a large gavel, the Associated Press reported.

"We are doing this for the American people," Pelosi was quoted saying.

Republicans were united in their opposition to the legislation.

"The American people don't want this to pass. The Republicans don't want this to pass. There will be no Republican votes for this bill," Rep. Eric Cantor (R., Va.), the No. 2 House Republican, told ABC, according to the AP.

On Saturday, President Obama made a last-minute appeal to members of his party to support the legislation, which has been a central focus of his administration and which would provide health coverage to tens of millions of uninsured people and prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to people with serious health problems.

Critics contend the legislation will raise taxes while not doing enough to contain skyrocketing U.S. medical costs.

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