House committee approves healthcare bill

The House Ways and Means Committee approved legislation to overhaul the healthcare system and expand insurance coverage after a marathon session in which Democrats easily turned back Republican efforts to amend the bill. Before taking the final roll call, the Ways and Means panel endorsed central elements of President Obama's blueprint for healthcare, including the creation of a new government health plan and a requirement for employers to provide insurance to their employees or contribute to its cost. The panel also voted to impose a surtax on families with incomes of more than $350,000 a year.