by Attorney, Michael Yaki

When the pundits claimed that the Democrats were too fractious to unite behind a single health care bill, one person calmly said it would not only be possible, but that it would happen. When everyone thought the health bill would fracture into a million pieces, one person said it should continue to be comprehensive in scope. When the conventional wisdom stated that the Dems were trying “deem and pass” to escape a recorded vote, one person kept on whipping the votes and working toward the magic 218.

That person was Speaker Nancy Pelosi. My posts are filled with praise for her quick intellect, her deft handling of grumpy members, her uncanny ability to know how to count to exactly the right number. When everyone was saying she only needed 216 to win — 4 of the 435 seats are vacant — I had no doubt that she wanted 218 to dispel any rumor or attack that the bill did not garner a majority of the full House. And thus it passed with 219 votes, and undoubtedly 2 or 3 to spare, at least.

This is an historic moment in our nation’s history, much like the moment that created Social Security and Medicare. This has been the Rock of Sisyphus for so many Administrations and Congresses over two generations. And it took an iron-willed mother of five to push it over the top.

Is the bill perfect? Far from it. And the Senate still needs to pass the House fixes to make it better, but still imperfect. But let’s review the undisputed facts. Expanded access to 32 million Americans. And end to “job lock” because of concerns that you will lose your health care. An end to pre-existing condition exclusions. An end to lifetime or per-incident coverage limits on you and your family. And solid deficit reduction to boot, something that the caterwauling Republicans refuse to acknowledge because we are still choking under the massive deficits wrought by their control.

It’s imperfect. But it’s also more than just a good start. It will create maeaningful change. And all because we have the great and good fortune of having Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. All of us in the City, in the Bay Area, indeed, all those who have fought for and experienced first hand the hardships of our health care system owe her a tremendous “huzzah” for her performance these past few critical months.

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