GOP bid to trim health law fails

A first attempt by congressional Republicans to repeal part of President Obama's new health care law failed Tuesday as the House overwhelmingly rejected an effort to cut out the individual mandate that requires all Americans to have coverage.

Democrats called the bid a "disingenuous political stunt" and rallied their troops to defeat the effort, 230-187. Still, 21 Democrats joined 166 Republicans in voting to undo one of the key parts of the health care law, signaling bipartisan unease at the massive overhaul of the nation's health care system.

The individual mandate requires Americans to have coverage through their job or to purchase a plan themselves, or else face tax penalties. It was part of the key bargain Mr. Obama struck with health insurers to broaden the pool of insured in exchange for companies accepting new rules on who qualified for coverage, lifetime benefits and other difficult issues...