Senate, country steels for health care showdown

Now that the U.S. House of Representatives has managed to pass health care legislation, the next step is the U.S. Senate, even more fiercely divided over a health care overhaul.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has expressed concern that he'll have a hard time getting the necessary votes to even bring the bill to the floor for debate.

Sixty votes are needed for that to happen.

The bill, outlined here, passed the House by a margin of 220-215. Of the the 220 who approved the bill, 219 were Democrats.

Five of 13 N.C. representatives voted in favor of the bill, all Democrats: Reps. George Butterfield, Bob Etheridge, David Price, Mel Watt and Brad Miller.

"This is a real milestone," said Bill Roper, dean of the UNC School of Medicine.

"But how it played out in North Carolina is very representative of the fact that the nation is still divided over it."

Opponents of the bill in the Senate have questioned its large price tag, among other things, saying it would unfairly burden Americans who are alreadly struggling financially.

What you're saying:

"I'm worried the Senate is not going to pass anything resembling what came out of the House. I like the public option, and I'm worried that might not last." - Phil Olivier, junior, political science and history

“I think there are certain basic levels of healthcare that should be afforded to everybody in the US. Access to health care is the most important thing on the agenda right now.” - Mike Deigan, freshman, undecided

“I think it’s amazing how scared of socialism this country really is. Americans have forgotten what welfare really means. It’s providing for the common good – you don’t have to have a Che Guevera bumper sticker to appreciate that.” - Paul Hartley, 2007 UNC alumnus

“I think we need to do something. We’re already paying for care for the uninsured because they don’t have access to preventative care. At least provide some basic level of coverage.” – Kimberly, graduate student, biology