RHINELANDER - President Obama is pushing the Senate to pass its own version of the Healthcare Reform bill, following the House of Representatives' vote to move it forward this weekend.

The House passed the $1.1 trillion dollar bill by a vote of 220 to 215 late Saturday night.

Supporters say it will extend coverage to nearly 36 million uninsured Americans.

Many House Democrats say under the bill insurance companies will not be allowed to drop customers because of pre-exisitng conditions, it will expand medicaid it includes Tort Reform to help protect healthcare workers from frivolous malpractice lawsuits.

House Republicans say they fear this bill will raise taxes and premiums significantly to cover the cost, which they say would make it far too expensive for the country to afford in this economic climate.

Many Republicans worry Medicare benefits will be cut significantly under the current bill.

House Republicans are also against the Public Option the bill includes.

President Obama wants the Senate to pass its own version of the bill before the new year.

The Senate has yet to debate on its own proposed bill for healthcare reform.

One sector greatly affected by current healthcare costs is small business.

Corky Stoxen owns his own pharmacies in Rhinelander and Tomahawk. As a healthcare worker Stoxen says he'd like to see healthcare reformed in some aspects.

He says, "Like to see a little more investigation as to how much insurance companies are making. I think Tort Reform would be a good thing."

Stoxen says most of his patients are for reform of some kind too as long as it's done well, "They're for some reform, they're nevous that it's going through awfully fast.
Overall that's been the opinion of everybody. Move slower, get it done right."

Stoxen says healthcare is something that affects him as a small business owner as well.

"Can't afford to pay for it for them or I'd be in the red," he says.

Stoxen adds he's concerned the government may move too fast in approving reform that could saddle him with an unpayable bill, if he's forced to provide healthcare for his employees. He says he'd like to be able to, but it must be done in a specific way, "Have a small business insurance pool, so we'd be a larger pool, which would make it easier to buy less expensive insurance, of course."

Stoxen says in order for many small business owners to afford healthcare for their employees the government would need make sure insurance is offered at more reasonable prices, similarly to the way it already is for most large employers. Stoxen adds he hopes when the lawmakers debate reform they take their time and look out for the little guy.

Supporters of the Healthcare Reform bill that made it through the House this weekend say it does include a "Health Insurance Exchange." Under this exchange small business employers would be able to comparison shop for affordable insurance among public and private insurers.

Opponents say this might not help all small business owners who could be forced to provide their employees insurance under that same bill.