Antitrust Exemption Repealed; Jobs Bill Passed

House votes to kill antitrust exemption for health insurers:

The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to repeal the antitrust exemption currently granted to health insurance companies.

The vote was 406-19 to repeal the exemption, which has been in place since the end of World War II. The 19 who voted against the repeal are Republicans.

Liberal Democrats have said a repeal would help inject competition into the health care industry while reducing consumer costs.

House Roll Call vote: a resolution — H RES 1098 — to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance.

H. RES. 1098

Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 4626) to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers.

Jobs Bill Passes in Senate:

Companies that hire the unemployed would claim new tax breaks under a jobs-promoting bill the Senate passed Wednesday, delivering President Barack Obama and Democrats a much-needed victory.

The 70-28 vote sends the bill back to the House, which passed a far more costly measure in December.

Senate Roll Call vote: H.R. 2847 — “the Jobs Bill” (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act)

H.R.2847

Pursuant to H.Res. 976, the House modified the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act, 2010, H.R. 2847, substituting the "Jobs for Main Street Act, 2010" as Division A of the Act and the "Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009" as Division B.