Obama Signs $938B Health Care Overhaul

WASHINGTON - A broadly smiling President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a historic $938 billion health care overhaul that guarantees coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans and will touch nearly every citizen's life, presiding over the biggest shift in U.S. domestic policy since the 1960s and capping a divisive, yearlong debate that could define the November elections.

Celebrating "a new season in America" -- the biggest accomplishment of his White House and one denied to a line of presidents before him -- Obama made the massive bill law with an East Room signing ceremony. He was joined by jubilant House and Senate Democrats as well as lesser-known people whose health care struggles have touched the president.

Obama scheduled back-to-back events to mark the moment, with much of his White House audience, as well as hundreds of others, heading to the Interior Department immediately after the signing.

"Today after almost a century of trial, today after over a year of debate, today after all the votes have been tallied, health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America. Today," Obama said, interrupted by applause after nearly every sentence. "All of the overheated rhetoric over reform will finally confront the reality of reform."

The White House still has to see a companion bill through the Senate. Debate is expected to begin as soon as Tuesday on that measure making a series of changes sought by House Democrats.

One Democrat who has already said he's a "no" vote is Sen. Ben Nelson, of Nebraska.

Nelson said he objects to a proposed restructuring of the student loan program.

And the bill passed Sunday night isn't sitting well with everyone of course.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett said the health care reform bill is unconstitutional. He is working with counterparts from 10 other states on a strategy to challenge the constitutionality of the bill.

The attorney generals are focusing on the penalty Americans would face if they don't get health insurance.

Meanwhile, the president will travel to Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, where nearly three years ago then-candidate Obama started a push for universal health coverage.