Andrew Busch

On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The Senate voted the legislation through on December 24, 2009, on a straight party-line vote: 60-39. The House vote on March 21, 2010 was less partisan and much closer: 219-212, with 34 Democrats voting nay. The bill’s ostensible purpose was to establish universal health coverage and provide health insurance for 30 million uninsured Americans.