“Historic Victory” in Health Care Reform

Written by Pats Papers | Monday, 22 March 2010 4:06 AM

One story dominated the news this morning. According to the Front Page Tally, every paper in our top 30 led with the historic 219-212 House vote to overhaul the nation’s health care system. It was a “historic victory in the century-long battle,” reports the Washington Post. The House of Representatives worked late into the night to pass health care reform legislation. The bill extends coverage to 32 million Americans who don’t have insurance now. There was unanimous opposition from the GOP; 34 Democratic Representatives chose to vote against the measure. The New York Times says House Democrats compared the bill the “establishment of Medicare and Social Security. According to the LA Times, the top-ranking black member of the House, Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, told reporters that �this is the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century.�

Gerald Selb takes a different tone in his Wall Street Journal column this morning. He says the difference between the health care bill and the historic social programs it has been compared to is that “the Great Society programs were enacted in an era when Americans still tended to trust the government to get things done.” Selb says distrust in our political system and leaders will be the biggest challenge this legislation will face.