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Health reform passes House by 7 votes

WASHINGTON — President Obama last night hailed Congress for answering “the call of history” — minutes after the House gave final passage to his landmark health-care plan by a super-close 219-212 vote.

“This is what change looks like,” Obama declared in televised remarks from the White House only weeks after some had called reform all but dead.

“We didn’t give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear. Instead, we proved that we are still are still a people capable of doing big things and tackling our biggest challenges,” the president added speaking just before midnight, with Vice President Biden standing by his side.

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House Democrats approved the $938 billion plan in a dramatic vote that backers called historic and Republicans blasted as a betrayal of the American people.

The House passed the landmark bill, 14 months in the making, at 10:45 p.m., with just three votes more than the 216 required for passage. Democrats on the House floor revived Obama’s campaign slogan, chanting, “Yes, we can!” as the legislation cleared its final hurdle on its way to the president for his signature.

Not a single Republican supported the overhaul, and 34 Democrats opposed it as well.

The legislation has already passed the Senate, so it now goes to Obama for his signature into law, possibly as soon as tomorrow.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared the effort a “great act of patriotism” and called the bill — despised by its most fervent critics — an “all-American act.”

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The day was filled with political tension as a final string of long-undecided lawmakers finally got off the fence and declared how they would vote:

* Obama worked the phones while administration lawyers and lobbyists talked turkey with holdout lawmakers, as Democrats inched ahead in the count.

* Angry protesters gathered outside the Capitol were so loud, their raucous chants against the bill could be heard inside the building.

* Republicans deployed an arsenal of guerrilla tactics to try to slow business to a crawl, forcing delays and extra votes pushing action well into the night.

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During two hours of debate on the House floor last night, Democrats repeatedly invoked history, citing the passage of Medicare and civil-rights marches, as well as invoking late Sen. Ted Kennedy’s name.

Pelosi personally buttonholed holdout members to get the final votes.

“It is with great humility and great pride that tonight we will make history for our country,” she said in a floor speech that had Democrats on their feet.

Republican leader Rep. John Boehner ripped Democrats for “backroom deals” and “failing to reflect the will” of the people.

“If we pass this bill, there will be no turning back,” the Ohio congressman warned. “It will be the last straw for the American people.”

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The yelling and clapping by the opposing sides got so heated that Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), who oversaw the debate, told both sides to “remember the dignity of the House.”

The White House said Obama called or met with 92 lawmakers since Monday, and he negotiated a special presidential executive order restricting abortion funding to clinch the final votes.

Democrats also included a series of special provisions into an amendment that appear designed to win over undecided votes.

One special deal extended a payment deadline for doctor-owned hospitals aided just 13 facilities, including hospitals in Tennessee, Ohio, and Tennessee in districts represented by Reps. Bart Gordon (Tenn.), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) and Paul Kanjorski (Pa.).

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) charged the bill “raises taxes and violates your privacy.”

“Just because it’s historic doesn’t mean it’s good,” said Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.)

Capitol cops booted a protester who stood up in a visitor’s gallery inside the House chamber and yelled, “Kill the bill!” as Republican lawmakers applauded the protester.

The historic health-care legislation clamps down on a range of insurance-industry practices, such as denying coverage for a pre-existing condition. It requires Americans to buy insurance or face fines, and covers 32 million people with new health “exchanges” for those who can’t get coverage and expanding Medicaid.

The bill also slashes $500 billion from Medicare and puts a new tax on investment income for the wealthy. Overall, the plan is estimated to cost $938 billion over a decade, while trimming $138 billion from deficits.

The House also last night passed a separate 2,300-page “reconciliation” bill that contains fixes to the Senate legislation.

The reconciliation bill must go to the Senate, which must pass it word for word for it to become law. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he has the votes to get it through, but Republicans plan to try to throw up procedural hurdles.

geoff.earle@nypost.com