Update: The White House has reached a deal with Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) for his vote on the bill. Rep. Stupak says “We’re well past 216,” the number of votes needed for passage.
The debate over this round of health care reform has been nasty for a long time, and yesterday it reached epic proportions when protesters reportedly called Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) “faggot” and Reps. John Lewis (D-GA) and Andre Carson (D-IN) “nigger.” Perhaps this will die down a little once the votes are counted this afternoon, and it almost certainly will (assuming the bill passes) once those in opposition realize that their fears aren’t coming true. And it’s with that in mind that I’ve collected the following links–stories which focus on what this legislation will actually do, and why it’s necessary.
For starters, here are ten immediate benefits that you’ll get when health care reform passes.
Ezra Klein explains how this reform will reduce costs, as well as who health care reform helps.
This study, published today, shows that lack of health insurance causes an additional 45,000 deaths a year, and “that uninsured, working-age Americans have a 40 percent higher risk of death than their privately insured counterparts.”
Jonathan Cohn looks at the closing arguments in this debate as the final votes near.
