Health care bill

WASHINGTON -- One year later, Nancy-Ann DeParle can understand why Americans are still sharply divided over whether health care reform was a good idea.

"For many of them, the benefits of the new law are just beginning to be felt," said DeParle, who was President Barack Obama's point person on health reform.

But for those who are already seeing the benefits, such as young adults who can now stay on their parents' insurance plans until they turn 26, the reforms already have proven their worth, DeParle said.

"If you talk to somebody whose child just graduated from college and doesn't have health insurance, I can tell you they're happy," she said. "I've had a number of them come up to me in church and various other places to say, 'Thank you for helping my child to be able to stay on my plan until they're 26.' "

One year ago on March 23, Obama signed the historic health reforms into law, putting in place the most sweeping changes to the nation's health delivery system since the creation of Medicare more than four decades ago.

WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, an opponent of the recently enacted health care overhaul, says Justice Elena Kagan should not take part in the widely expected Supreme Court consideration of the new law.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate plans to vote Wednesday on legislation to repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, after Democrats and Republicans agreed on a deal to schedule the largely symbolic roll call.

The repeal, which GOP lawmakers are trying to attach to an aviation bill, is expected to fall short of the necessary 60-vote supermajority. Democrats hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate, including independents who caucus with them.

WASHINGTON — It's a striking statistic.

WASHINGTON — House Republicans redeemed a campaign promise to repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, but now must march against the headwinds of a Democratic-controlled Senate and the specter of a White House veto.

RICHMOND, Va. -- A federal judge declared the foundation of President Barack Obama's health care law unconstitutional Monday, ruling that the government cannot require Americans to purchase insurance. The case is expected to end up at the Supreme Court.

In his order, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson said he will allow the law to remain in effect while appeals are heard, meaning there is unlikely to be any immediate impact on other provisions that have already taken effect. The insurance coverage mandate is not scheduled to begin until 2014.