After a year of debate, the health care bill finally was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 219 to 212.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, led the delicate maneuvering to garner the votes needed for passage of the $940 billion, 10-year bill.

The final votes hinged on Representative Bart Stupak (D-Mich). He and his colleagues initially objected to the language on abortion which they felt was not clear enough. President Obama told Stupak that he would issue an executive order spelling out in clear language that federal health care monies would not be used for elective abortions. That brought Stupak and his group on board and clinched the final tally.

Senator Ben Nelson, who had been holding out on voting for health care, finally agreed to go along and vote yes.

Nelson, a right-to-life supporter, gained some concessions to limit the availability of abortions in insurance sold in newly created exchanges. Of course he was paid off. He got tens of millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funds for his home state.

He also noted that he had fended off attempts to provide for government-run insurance option.