Obama signs health care overhaul, but GOP fights on

The Senate began wrangling in earnest on Tuesday over reconciliation on healthcare reform, but President Obama's signing of the main bill grabbed the stoplight from the more arcane procedural maneuvers.

Obama signed the bill, which topped his agenda for the past year and at many points seemed destined to fail, at an emotional event that was a combination pep rally and salute to elders in Congress, including the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

With many senators and most of the 219 Democratic House members who voted for the bill just two days ago packed into the East Room along with some ordinary Americans whose struggles with the current system he had dramatized over the long debate, the president used more than 20 pens to sign the measure into law.

But the work is not done, Obama warned. Democrats must still sell the changes to a splintered public and, as he noted to an ovation from House members, the Senate "still has the last round of improvements to make on this historic legislation."

With the overhaul enacted, the Senate is left to approve changes the House has already signed off on, including a reduction in the excise tax on expensive insurance plans and reduced penalties for those who ignore the coverage mandate.

Still, Senate Republicans signaled they will not let Democrats clear the reconciliation package without overcoming procedural hurdles. According to aides, Republicans are set to slow the process on Tuesday despite being thwarted by the Senate parliamentarian Monday on a key point of order aimed at derailing the package.

Democrats must take several procedural steps to start reconciliation, including formally adjourning. Republicans were expected to force a vote on the motion to adjourn, and they were also considering offering amendments to that motion, aides said. Democrats were also preparing for the possibility Republicans would force votes on other steps usually approved unanimously.

Still, Democrats hope by late Tuesday to vote on a motion to proceed to the bill, kicking off 20 hours of debate that would be followed by a long series of votes on GOP amendments.

Senate Budget ranking member Judd Gregg, R-N.H., on Tuesday said the next GOP point of order will focus on Medicare, contending that the Budget Act requires any savings from the program not be used for other entitlements.

Even if Republicans succeed in forcing changes to the bill, key Democrats played down the chances the GOP could do anything more than slow the reconciliation bill's trip to Obama's desk.

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., predicted any changes would be minor and would sail through a second House vote that any alteration would require. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the House would not start the spring recess until it was clear whether further House action would be necessary.

Senate Democrats hope to wrap up voting by Saturday, though some are more optimistic. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., predicted the final votes could come Thursday.

Republicans skipped the signing ceremony and geared up talk about trying to repeal it and trying to take political advantage in an election year.

"By signing this bill, President Obama is abandoning our founding principle that government governs best when it governs closest to the people. Americans have never felt more disconnected from their government than they do today," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

The Republican National Committee announced it had pulled in $1 million in campaign contributions since Monday's launch of the Web site www.firenancypelosi.com.

Anna Edney, Humberto Sanchez, Erin McPike and Billy House contributed to this story.