Connecticut House backs universal health care coverage

The Connecticut House of Representatives took a major step toward guaranteeing healthcare coverage to tens of thousands of state residents without health insurance. The House voted largely along party lines, 107-35, for a landmark bill aimed at achieving universal healthcare in Connecticut by creating a public insurance pool that anyone could join, regardless of their health history. The pool would be based on the existing pool for state employees, and is designed to compete with, not replace, private insurance plans.