America, We Have Health Care Reform

Whether you stayed up late to witness it, or woke up early to the good news, there's reason to smile on this Monday morning. Last night, the House passed sweeping health care reform by a vote of 219-212, without any Republican support whatsoever. Even though we progressives never doubted that something would get done, it feels a little surreal, doesn't it? Thirty-two million more people guaranteed coverage, overnight. Sixteen million more with access to Medicaid. Children on their parents' plans until age 26. A bill that will reduce the deficit while recognizing the rights of people to have health care.

It wasn't the bill that many progressives, or President Obama, had hoped for when this process started close to a year and a half ago. We're still waiting on the public option. Millions still won't be covered. And debate over whether federal money would go to abortion procedures -- and the pending executive order that specified that it won't -- threatened to derail the bill even as late as yesterday. But today, after a bruising and viciously partisan battle that included some of the decade's most ridiculous political maneuvers, there is a health care bill on its way to the president's desk.

Bravo to the Democrats who eventually came around -- and those who supported comprehensive reform from the start. Many Representatives managed to do what was right, even if not politically expedient, by voting for a bill that has become unpopular in some parts of the country after a Republican smear campaign. A battered economy and frustration over Congressional delays may cost many Democratic Congressmen their jobs this fall. They should proudly campaign for reelection on this vote, a promise to the American people that they deserve to see their grandchildren grow up.

Photo credit: The White House