SCOREBOARD: GOOD 56 EVUL 43

Democrats near victorious end of health care fight
Mar 25 05:20 PM US/Eastern
By DAVID ESPO
AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) - Capping an epic struggle, congressional Democrats applied the final touches Thursday to historic legislation enshrining health care as the right of every citizen. Republicans vowed to campaign for repeal in the fall election season, drawing a quick retort from President Barack Obama: "I welcome that fight."

The president spoke in Iowa as the Senate voted 56-43 for legislation making changes, including better benefits for seniors and lower- and middle-class families, to the bill he signed with a flourish at the White House on Tuesday. That cleared the way for a final, confirming vote in the House, which Democratic leaders hoped for by evening.