Thank Goodness for the Senate Moving Forward ... Among Other Things
This Saturday, the Senate voted to proceed with the health insurance reform debate around its proposed legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The Senate has 60 Democrats (to be exact, 58 Democrats and 2 Democrat-leaning independents). It remains to be seen whether the Senate will have the 60 votes needed to pass an overhaul of the American health care system. While Saturday's vote in support of moving forward with debate was a crucial first step, that vote was the easy part. It is not clear whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will have the 60 votes necessary to pass a health reform bill.
Though the Senate will not be in session during this Thanksgiving week, upon their return Senators will launch into weeks or more of unpredictable debate on the health insurance reform bill, with over 200 amendments expected from both sides of the aisle and more 60-vote hurdles along the way. Senate leaders hope to pass their bill by the end of the year, in which case the Senate and the House would work in January to reconcile the two versions before a final bill could reach President Obama's desk.
In the midst of this health care debate and the seemingly constant conflict around us, it is all too easy to forget that we have much to be thankful for in this holiday season. Faithful Reform in Health Care, a coalition of over 50 state and national faith organizations working on health care issues nationwide, has written a Prayer for Thanksgiving and Hope for Health Care for All that reminds us of all that we can be grateful for during this season of not just Thanksgiving, but also enormous change in our nation.
That said there is also much we can do to better the world around us. We must be thankful for what we do have and also recognize that millions of people lack access to affordable and quality care, including many in our own Jewish community. We must speak up: send letters and emails to your Senators and call to remind them that we must pass health insurance reform swiftly, it must include a public option, and anti-choice provisions such as the Stupak Amendment must be omitted from the final language of the bill. Now is not the time for quiet: we must take action now!
Stay up to date on latest health reform news and commentary through the RACblog and www.jewsforhealthcarereform.org. For more information, contact me at rkatz@rac.org or by phone at 202.387.2800.
In the midst of this health care debate and the seemingly constant conflict around us, it is all too easy to forget that we have much to be thankful for in this holiday season. Faithful Reform in Health Care, a coalition of over 50 state and national faith organizations working on health care issues nationwide, has written a Prayer for Thanksgiving and Hope for Health Care for All that reminds us of all that we can be grateful for during this season of not just Thanksgiving, but also enormous change in our nation.
That said there is also much we can do to better the world around us. We must be thankful for what we do have and also recognize that millions of people lack access to affordable and quality care, including many in our own Jewish community. We must speak up: send letters and emails to your Senators and call to remind them that we must pass health insurance reform swiftly, it must include a public option, and anti-choice provisions such as the Stupak Amendment must be omitted from the final language of the bill. Now is not the time for quiet: we must take action now!
Stay up to date on latest health reform news and commentary through the RACblog and www.jewsforhealthcarereform.org. For more information, contact me at rkatz@rac.org or by phone at 202.387.2800.