Answer:
Probably the main reason for the defeat of President Clinton's plan for universal health coverage was that Republicans didn't want it, as it would increase public spending for the federal government, thus increasing taxes for the contributors.
Furthermore, if this bill had been approved, it would have granted an almost incontestable popularity to the Democratic Party among the less privileged sectors of society, which would make it much more difficult for the Republican Party to win in the following elections.
