Harold's Left:
It's taken a hundred years to get here. Countless hours of effort. Thousands upon thousands of men and women who have committed their entire lives to reforming the health care system in America. It is truly a cause that effects each and every one of us.
When the House passed the health care reform bill just after 11pm on Saturday evening, there was an eruption of emotion and celebration from the Democratic caucus. Nancy Pelosi had tears streaming from her eyes. Many of the members of Congress described it as the very essence of the reason that they got into politics. I watched the entire vote like it was the NFL playoffs, clutching my seat with my eyes glued to the television obsessing over the vote count... 218... 218...
I know this is only the first major hurdle in health care reform, as the bill still needs to be passed in the Senate. However, I could not help but wallow in the enormity of the moment. I think back on my life and how, ever since I can remember, presidents and elected officials have been talking about health care reform. For all the grief some of us progressives have given the President (and I am certainly included in that number) the fact that he stayed vigilant and committed to making health care reform pass this test, even when he knew it would not be easy, even when knew he'd be staking his presidency on it, says alot. If he continues to stay focused (it's Obama, so there is not doubt he will) and gets this passed in the Senate, it's hard not to view him as the greatest President of our generation. If only for passing the most difficult and important piece of legislation this nation has seen since Civil Rights.
On the flip side, is everybody ready for the obstructionist backlash? We all better be, because this summer didn't have anything on the backlash from the conservatives if (and when) this bill is signed into law. They will vow that Democrats will go down in 2010. They will insist that this is the end of American liberty the same way Ronald Reagan did over Medicare in 1961 in his speech Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine. They will cry and whine and throw all of the socialist, marxist, communist shots across the bow they possibly can. It's part of their makeup. Does not matter, they won't be getting much from Christmas this year anyway. What gifts can you give to people that hate everything?
As for the actual content of the bill itself. It is easily a step in the right direction. Yes, like many progressives I am appalled that 64 Democrats voted against a woman's right to choose and passed the Stupak Amendment. However, like Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) said last night "We'll live to fight that battle, I took one hundred years to do health care, nothing can dim that". Additionally, 39 Democrats voted against this bill.
One of those Democrats was freshman Rep. Larry Kissell (D-NC), the congressman that represents the district in which I live. I am slated to work on his campaign next year. I already had everything lined up to do just that, and until last night I was enthusiastic to do it. To ensure that my perennial swing district did not fall back into the hands of a Republican. To spend long days and nights knocking on doors and calling homes in a district that is literally a 50-50 split. He campaigned on a promise to be committed to health care reform. As you can imagine, I was mortified to find out a few hours before the vote in an email from some inside folks that he would be voting against it. This prompted me to do some soul searching. How can I spend my time working and campaigning for someone who goes against his party on the most important vote in a generation? Well, the answer is simple, I can't. I know that admission of that here may mean I am not welcome to spend my time helping him. I will have to live with that.
So with that said here are some of the things that make this an exceptional step forward:
- Abolishment of the insurance anti-trust exemption
- Coverage for an estimated 96% of Americans
- Pre-existing conditions can no longer be cause for dropped coverage
- No tax increase for 99% of Americans
- A reduction the in the deficit over the next two decades
- Sale of insurance across state lines as long as it's in accordance with that state's law
- A public option to allow competition and insure people who cannot get coverage otherwise
- Tax subsides to the poor who cannot afford health coverage
- Relief in tax burden for 95% of small business
- Young people can remain on their parents insurance until 27
Last night was an important night for America. It let us know that our system can still make change happen. We all understand that this cause is not finished, as now we have to get past the hurdle of the Senate. However as we move forward we can still rejoice in the victory that this passage signifies. Progress.
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