An Imperfect Bill and One Lonely Republican

I woke up this morning and there was an e-mail from President Obama that read:

Asude --

This evening, at 11:15 p.m., the House of Representatives voted to pass their health insurance reform bill. Despite countless attempts over nearly a century, no chamber of Congress has ever before passed comprehensive health reform. This is history.

But you and millions of your fellow Organizing for America supporters didn't just witness history tonight -- you helped make it. Each "yes" vote was a brave stand, backed up by countless hours of knocking on doors, outreach in town halls and town squares, millions of signatures, and hundreds of thousands of calls. You stood up. You spoke up. And you were heard.

So this is a night to celebrate -- but not to rest. Those who voted for reform deserve our thanks, and the next phase of this fight has already begun.

The final Senate bill hasn't even been released yet, but the insurance companies are already pressing hard for a filibuster to bury it. OFA has built a massive neighborhood-by-neighborhood operation to bring people's voices to Congress, and tonight we saw the results. But the coming days will put our efforts to the ultimate test. Winning will require each of us to give everything we can, starting right now.

It's not perfect. The bill included an abortion restriction. It makes performing an abortion the only LEGAL medical procedure to be singled out as uncoverable. An imperfect bill indeed.

The bill was passed by Democrats in the House and one lonely Republican: Representative Joseph Cao of Louisiana, who represents New Orleans and broke ranks with his fellow Republicans who all sat there with their arms crossed as the Dems cheered the gavel on.