Oklahoma City, OK – Today, in a historic Christmas Eve session, the Senate voted to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  The bill passed with unanimous support from Democrats despite weeks of Republican stall tactics and attempts to keep the bill from coming to a vote.  In response, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Todd Goodman released the following statement:

"Today's vote marks a victory for all Oklahomans. After decades of work from Presidents to Congressmen to everyday families, this is a historic moment in achieving comprehensive health reform. Not only is this agreement the largest expansion of coverage since Medicare, it is also the greatest deficit reduction package passed in the last decade.

"The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will end decades of unfair insurance industry practices that have hurt Oklahomans, and will provide quality, affordable options for the uninsured while reducing costs for families, businesses and the country as a whole. It will expand coverage to more than 30 million Americans, yet still shrink the deficit by more than $130 billion in the next 10 years.

"This bill will deliver on the reforms Americans have been pushing for since the health care debate began – reducing costs, providing quality, affordable choices for the uninsured and providing stability and security for those who already have coverage.

"I find it sad that Republicans in Washington have turned this widespread struggle for badly needed reforms into a partisan battle. Not surprisingly, Senators Coburn and Inhofe joined the rest of the D.C. Republicans in voting against this legislation and against helping hard-working Oklahoma families. Both of our Senators will have to answer for their actions to the millions of Oklahomans who will benefit from these reforms.

"Today Oklahoma Democrats are grateful to our national leaders who have listened to the needs of everyday Americans and have fought to make comprehensive health insurance reform a reality for Oklahomans."