History made tonight

It has been a great night indeed.

President Franklin Roosevelt gave us Social Security in 1935, but in 1939 he could not get Congress to back national health insurance.

President Harry Truman was unsuccessful when he asked Congress for universal health care coverage in 1945.

In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson pushed Congress and got us Medicare and Medicaid.

In the 1970s President Richard Nixon could not get Congress to extend Medicare/Medicaid coverage to everyone.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton could not get Congress to back universal health care.

But tonight saw history made. After months and months of often fierce conflict (and endless shouts about Nazis and death panels and similar craziness), the House passed a strong health reform bill by a vote of 219 to 212.

Many folks (such as myself) could not figure out why President Obama went so very long without giving up on the Party of Perpetual No. But then he rekindled the fire of his campaigning days. And he has been relentless ever since.

Some think that for a time the president was almost convinced by advisors such as Rahm Emanuel to forget the big picture and just go for smaller changes. But Nancy Pelosi would not be moved. Obviously, the first woman Speaker of the House is pure determination and dogged perseverance.

So tonight begins a new era, with some changes taking place right away and some taking up to four years to implement. Despite the lack of a public option (for now), the approved bill will change the lives of millions of Americans. 32 million uninsured will be getting insurance coverage. Among the many changes: insurance companies will not be allowed to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions or gender; large employers will have to provide coverage; out of pocket costs will be capped; parents will be able to keep their children on their health coverage until age 26.

The Senate must now vote on some "corrections" insisted upon by the House -- to be decided by "reconciliation" (51 votes or the vote of VP Joe Biden if there is a tie.)

Tonight's House vote was by far the biggest medical coverage decision in almost a half century.

P.S. Special thanks to Rep. Bart Stupak, who I would say redeemed himself tonight. And to hundreds of Catholic hospitals (through the Catholic Health Association) and the national coalition of nuns for backing the reform bill when the bishops would not.