Did we do enough?

Well, I guess that doing something is a better approach than doing nothing...

They still managed to pass the health care bill by the narrowest of margins. At least we convinced them to abandon the crime of "deem and pass".

Here is what CNN reported about how house Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, felt about Democratic leaders betraying the trust of the public by pushing ahead with a bill that lacks broad public support.

"We have failed to listen to America and we have failed to reflect the will of our constituents," he said. "And when we fail to reflect that will, we fail ourselves and we fail our country."

He also slammed what he characterized as a legislative process marked by a lack of transparency and accountability.

"Look at how this bill was written," he said, his voice steadily rising. "Can you say it was done openly? With transparency and accountability? Without backroom deals? ... Hell no you can't!"

Brown, however, decried the vote and said the nation can't afford the measure. "Today's vote shows that leaders in Washington continue to ignore the will of the people," he said. "Americans have sent a message to Washington for the past year, including with my election, that they are opposed to this multitrillion-dollar health care bill that will raise taxes, increase premiums, cut Medicare and leave future generations with a mountain of debt."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just look at them laughing as they stick it to the working man and small business... The bill passed in a 219-212 vote after more than a year of bitter partisan debate. All 178 Republicans opposed it, along with 34 Democrats. The measure, constitutes the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since Medicare and Medicaid were enacted more than four decades ago. It represents a significant step toward the goal of universal coverage sought by every Democratic president since Harry Truman. Most Americans will now be required to have health insurance or pay a fine.

GOP leaders have repeatedly warned the plan will lead to a government takeover of America's private health care system. They have also argued it will lead to higher premiums and taxes while imposing harsh Medicare cuts and doing little to control spiraling medical costs.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. They took over the student loan system too... "The speaker sweetened the deal for some progressive members of her caucus partly by adding additional subsidies and a major student loan overhaul measure to the compromise plan. The measure -- a priority for Obama -- would end the practice of having private banks offer student loans and would expand direct lending from the government."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All is not lost. It still has to get through the Senate. House Minority Leader John Boehner, however, argued Friday that the vote was "pretty tight." Boehner had said the revised health care bill was worse than the original legislation, adding that the "American people are going to hear about every payoff, every kickback and every sweetheart deal that comes out."

So, don't give up. If it doesn't pass the senate, or gets changed, it still has to go back to the house...