WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Local reaction to health care reform passage

"I was really overjoyed that it passed," he says.

Knoll's past experiences with health care moved him to support the health care bill.

"My mom died of breast cancer in 1984. It was a very huge bill that we were unable to pay," Mike says. "There's many families that are facing bankruptcy because of that and other issues, and I think it's long overdue."

U.S. Representatives voted on the bill during a special weekend session Saturday night.

The bill needed 218 votes to pass. It got 220.

"It's an important next step as far as making sure all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care," says Rep. Ron Kind, (D) Wisc.

Republicans overwhelmingly opposed the bill, with only one supporter.

Thirty nine democrats voted against the bill too.

"This is difficult, and people come from different perspectives depending, especially, from what part of the country," Kind says.

Mandated insurance and a government-run health care program stand as two reasons for opposition.

"The problem that we have with Representative Kind is that he does not represent the people of the Third District," says Tom Lynch, Chairman of the La Crosse County Republicans. "He is merely following the Democrat Party playbook. I don't believe anything the Democrat congressman is saying."

Lynch says it's not right to force people to buy insurance.

"If you're perfectly healthy and able and have a genetic history in your family, you don't have a history of disease and that, maybe you don't want to buy an insurance policy," Lynch says.

Mike disagrees.

"People don't know. Yes at this minute, their family is healthy, their friends, their circle of family and friends are healthy, but what if?" Mike says.

For now, Mike is satisfied with the outcome, hoping for similar results in the Senate.

gerickson@wxow.com