Reflections on Health Care Reform Accomplishments

It’s the day after the truly HISTORIC vote in the U. S. House of Representatives, setting the Health Care Reform bill (HW 3590) on its way to the Senate, Reconciliation and final signature. Is it any doubt that this omnibus and historic bill will be named in honor of the late Edward M. Kennedy? I think it is entirely fitting and perhaps the best genuine memorial for his long and distinguished service in the Senate and for our country in general.

Meanwhile, even the Republican pundits (such as former Bush speechwriter David Frum) are fessing up to the colossal defeat that it is. The part of “No!” told their lies in their talking points to the end (indeed, included in tan-man’s final summation) but the independent Frum calls it for what it is: “Disaster”. Along the way, he points out some of the major PLUSES of the Bill and why these features will contribute to failure of any repeal attempted: “how many votes could we muster to re-open the ‘doughnut hole’ and charge seniors more for prescription drugs? How many votes to re-allow insurers to rescind policies when they discover a pre-existing condition? How many votes to banish 25-year olds from their parents’ insurance coverage?” I just love his assessment that “we followed the most radical voices in the party and the movement, and they led us to abject and irreversible defeat”

Of course, the “conservative entertainment industry” will have a field day. Although it’s hard to understand why ANYONE with a gross income of less than $500,000 could possibly be in favor of the Republican positions on this bill (which basically says “let’s just live with the status quo of things are they are – oh, except, of course that we need to throttle in those evil lawyers and their opportunistic malpractice lawsuits”). They took all the anti-reform big business lobbying money and lined their coffers for their 2010 campaign. It’s a pity that they really have no record to campaign on except “No!”. All the campaign money in the world won’t change the Waterloo they have brought on themselves. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch!