From Where I Stand: Step 34

As I sit down to write on this the first full day of spring members of the House of Representatives have voted for the Senate health care bill and reconciliation. In the other room the television is tuned to C-Span that covered the debate and vote. Earlier today the last of the Democrats to oppose the legislation due to the issue of government funding of abortion received the assurance he required that the federal government would not fund abortion. Bart Stupak, a representative from the upper peninsula of Michigan, said his objections were satisfied and he would support the bill. According to those in the media given the task of counting votes before they actually occur, this put the vote past the 216 needed to pass the bill. The most disturbing part is that not one Republican voted in the affirmative. In listening to the debate it was clear not one Republican would vote for this bill. Each of them in turn conceded the need for health care reform, but insisted the current bill should be scrapped in order to start over. They pointed out that there was bipartisan opposition to the bill. Apparently Democrats are willing to cross over despite the pressure imposed by the President and the Speaker of the House. At the same time tireless adherence to ideology prevents Republicans from working with their counterparts on the other side of the aisle. In fact, some like Devin Nunes of Visalia, California decried the legislation as a Democratic attempt to bring back the failed state run Communism of the Soviet era. In opening the debate, Steny Hoyer, the majority whip, pointed out that Presidents Bush, Ford and Nixon all called for health care reform. Yet, despite having majorities in Congress during a couple of those administrations Republicans failed to ever bring a bill to the floor of either house of Congress. John Boehner, the minority whip, claimed those supporting the bill today were acting out of arrogance and not in response to the will of the people. It is incredible to me to think that Mr. Boehner, who often takes a condescending tone, can assert that he knows the will of the people better than those elected to represent those people. According to every poll that I have had an opportunity to read Americans overwhelmingly want to see spiraling health care costs brought under control. They disagree on how this should be done. However, most agree Republicans have voted consistently to maintain the status quo. Whether or not it was the will of the people they appeared more interested in thwarting the efforts of the Clintons, Obama and Pelosi than in curtailing insurance companies discriminatory policies and extraordinary profits. Some of them have gone so far as to call the current plan Obamacare despite the two hundred amendments Speaker Pelosi credited Republican representatives with inserting into the bill. Although it is unclear to me how the legislation will allow 32 million more Americans to have health insurance, what is clear is this will relieve the burden we as taxpayers face whenever an uninsured person shows up at an emergency room. As a parent with a child with diabetes it has been disconcerting that as she takes her place in the world she may be denied health coverage because of her pre-existing condition. Finally, while only time will tell if this legislation will be cost effective, enable access to affordable health care, curb unfair insurance practices, improve preventive care, and build a healthier society, from where I stand it is a courageous step beyond where we were on the last day of winter.