House Of Reps. Give Health Care Reform CPR
President Obama and the Democrats finally got their shot at health care reform after it passed late last night in the House of Representatives. After a painful, hate-filled period of debate, House Democrats managed to force the $875 billion health care reform bill through Congress. The Senate had passed the bill back in December.
Now the bill will go to President Obama to sign into law, and there will be a period of debate (and perhaps more "baby killer declarations") within the Senate on the specifics of the bill.
The bill, which was on the precipice of failure, managed to pass after a fair amount of negotiating between opposing "anti-abortion" Democrats, and the White House. Provisions in the bill which were deemed as "pro-abortion," and would have provided government funds for those seeking an abortion were eliminated. This compromise, which stung many pro-choice groups, was perhaps the final piece of the puzzle.
Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) had something to say to the gathered members of Congress on the passage of the bill:
Nancy Pelosi: Congress will be "making history, making progress and restoring the American dream" by passing reform, she said.
It's time to "complete the great unfinished business of our society," she said. Health care "is a right and not a privilege."
John Boehner was less than enthusiastic about the bill's passing:
"We have failed to listen to America and we have failed to reflect the will of our constituents. And when we fail to reflect that will, we fail ourselves and we fail our country."
"Look at how this bill was written. Can you say it was done openly? With transparency and accountability? Without backroom deals? ... Hell no, you can't!"
Boehner's right, the Democrats had to take a lesson out of the GOP playbook and pull some shady tactics to get the bill passed. However, considering the level of nonsense the conservatives have been spewing for the last year on this matter, it all seems pretty much a moral wash.
Rest assured, this isn't the last we will hear on this matter...unfortunately.
Follow Technorati