Cheers of "Yes we can" filled the room when the House passed healthcare reform by a narrow margin on March 21 at 10:45 p.m., the moment the required 216th vote was tallied, a decision that will make health insurance available to over 30 million uninsuread Americans. The final count was 219 to 212 in an effort that has been President Barack Obama's top priority during his first year as Commander-in-Chief. In the post-victory address, the President said, "We proved we are still a people capable of doing big things and tackling our biggest challenges."
Realistically, the worst challenges to this legislation may have only just begun. The GOP unanimously opposed the healthcare reformation plan. According to various news reports over 30 states are preparing to block this bill on the grounds that government mandated healthcare is illegal.
The sentiments couldn't be more polarized along party lines.
Like most Conservatives and Republican law makers, Jay Sekulow, head of the American Center for Law and Justice says the government can expect multiple law suits from states and individual citizens once Pres. Obama signs the Healthcare Bill into law in the coming days. Sekulow says the government is violating the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution by forcing the American people to buy a product.
The top-ranking African-American in the House, Rep. James Clyburn (D-South Carolina) thinks, "This is the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century."
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