It took barely 8 minutes for 218 Democrats to pass the controversial and historic House bill (HR 3962) for health reform Saturday night. The final vote, 220 to 215, included a single Republican from Louisiana. At 11:14 pm, when the vote closed, applause greeted the results and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi read the results to further applause.
C-Span carried the event including the individual passionate speeches, including a notable address by Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) whose career has been synonymous with health reform.
postscript (Sunday, 12:15 a.m.)
"No more bake sales for health care for America's families," said Speaker Pelosi as she summarized the Democrat's celebratory spirit after passing HR 3962. Pelosi, who led the successful fight to pass the bill, praised other House leaders who have spent years working for health reform: Reps. Dingell, Henry Waxman, Steny Hoyer, Jim Clyburn, Charles Rangel, George Miller. Rep. Patrick Kennedy' work in passing the mental health parity bill was acknowledged and the Rhode Island congressman said the spirit of his late father, Sen. Edward Kennedy, was present.
Mr. Dingell gave credit to the younger Representatives who came from difficult districts and Rep. Clyyburn noted the process of merging three bills from different committes brought the caucus closer together. But most of the praise went to Speaker Pelosi, whom Waxman called one of the "all time great speakers of the House." Miller said without Pelosi "this would not have happened."
