Obama set to sign health care 'fixes' bill

President Obama is set to claim final victory on his top domestic priority Tuesday by signing into law a package of changes to the newly enacted health care reform

bill.The signing ceremony at a community college in northern Virginia will culminate almost a year of fiercely partisan debate and a tortuous legislative

journey on the proposals generated by Democrats and unanimously opposed by Republicans.Due to a shifting political landscape, Democrats eventually needed the separate bill being signed Tuesday to make changes in the original legislation in

order to get the overall package passed by Congress.Among other things, the "fixes" bill significantly expands health insurance subsidies for lower- and middle-income families while watering down a tax on expensive health policies.The bill also increases the overall cost of the health care reform legislation to $940 billion over the next 10 years, $65 billion more than the original health care bill Obama signed into law last week.In addition, it overhauls the national college student loan system by shifting government funding for loans away from commercial banks to new education initiatives. Until now, commercial banks have received federal subsidies to provide student loans.The "fixes" bill received final legislative approval last Thursday in a 220-207 vote in the House of Representatives. No Republicans backed the measure, which GOP leaders insist will lead to cuts in critical Medicare services while doing little to slow spiraling medical costs.Earlier in the day, the Senate approved the plan on a 56-43 vote, also without any Republican support.The congressional wrangling, which included late night votes and acerbic floor debate, reflected the political split throughout the country over health care reform. Polls show the American public remains sharply divided, and conservative activists cheered on by Republicans continue to hold rallies against the legislation.

Senate Minority Leader R-Kentucky, recently told CNN that Republicans would use the slogan "repeal and replace" with regard to the health care legislation in their congressional campaigns later this year.While a repeal of the legislation is considered unlikely, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, questioned the strategy by her opponents, noting it would require GOP candidates to favor ending popular benefits in the legislation, such as preventing insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions."They want to reverse and repeal a prohibition on denying care on the basis of a pre-existing condition," Pelosi said Monday. "Can you imagine making that case?"Democrats argue the health care reform plan, estimated to extend coverage to 32 million Americans, will reduce federal budget deficits while giving consumers greater leverage with private insurance companies.