HEALTH CARE!

The House of Representatives passed a health care bill by a vote of 219-212 and sent a reconciliation change bill to the Senate by a vote of 220-211.

The path of the legislation though Congress was circuitous.

1 - A health care bill was passed in the House.
2 - A different bill, HR 3590, was amended and then approved by the Senate.
2 - The Senate Bill went back to the House where it was approved 219-212, along with "reconciliation" changes 220-211.
3 - The reconciliation changes, HR 4872, must go back to the Senate for approval.

By Senate rules, reconciliation changes are approved by a majority vote and are not subject to a filibuster, which would require 60 votes to end. (Since "rules" are at issue here, the Senate Parliamentarian -- ie the rules arbitrator -- may play a vital role in this stage.)

Here's a moderately lucid description of the process, in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_reform_in_the_United_States

The Reconciliation bill is HR 4872
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.4872:

Reading this is not too helpful, as it consists of a lot of language amending other laws (and on the face of it seems to include a lot of other -- quite strange -- stuff.)

So here, again, is what Wikipedia has to say:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Care_and_Education_Affordability_Reconciliation_Act_of_2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act

Here is the White House summary of the President's "proposal":
http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/proposal The "proposal" of course is not the actual bill.

The health care bill was passed with "Yes" votes from 220 Democrats. No Republicans voted for the bill. The Senate version was also passed entirely with Democratic votes.

With dedicated Republican opposition, and a range of views among the Democrats as to what should be included in the health care bill, the process of passing the bill was lengthy and difficult.

It is a great tribute to the governing style of President Obama that hard work, unflagging committment, and a continual search for ways to reach a compromise acceptable to a majority in Congress finally succeeded in passing the bill.

It is something of a shame for most media outlets that reporting on the details of the bill was meager, while superficial reporting about the bill's progress (with less gravity than reports on a TV reality show contest) was extensive. The poor quality of much of the reporting may well have made passage of the bill more difficult.

It should also be noted that the arcane processes of Congress also made the process difficult. For example, the final version of the bill -- the version that Congress votes on -- ought to be easily downloadable in a version that is clearly readable and understandable. (No such version seems to exist.) The bill should just state the new laws, explicitly, in clear simple language.

Here's the best I've found:

Clicking on the following link will download a PDF version of the bill the Senate passed:

(Note: To add to the confusion, the following bill started life as ��An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees, and for other purposes.�� . The name of the bill as well as its entire purpose were changed during the process.)

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3590eas.txt.pdf

220-211 219-212

PLEASE SEE:

http://tattoowesley.blogspot.com/2010/03/health-care.html

INAUGURATION

Certainly the Presidency of Barack Obama marks a major milestone in the drive to achieve in The United States Of America the standard set out in the Declaration Of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. � That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men..."

We had not secured these rights when the Declaration was embodied in our first constitution -- which allowed, among other things, slavery. (We also, of course, need to take "Men," in the sense of "humans," not "males".) We have not fully secured these rights even now, but we are getting closer.

But there is another kind of change that also seems to be taking place with his Presidency:

In his campaign, Obama talked about "change. " Media commentators, noting that Obama's cabinet was largely composed of Washington insiders, not outsiders, speculated -- and often seemed confused -- on what he meant by "change."

The biggest change, it seems to me, is in trying to unapologetically place government at the heart of solving problems that need a communal, nation-wide approach to solve, and to do this with the greatest possible expertise. He chose Washington insiders who were uniquely brilliant, practical do-ers; not brilliant theoreticians from academia; not idealogues.

At least since Roosevelt, we have not seen such a whole-hearted commitment to the value of government.

"...everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act � not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth."

...

"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works..."

...

"To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it. "

Obama is a community organizer on a scale that encompasses the whole country -- and even the whole world -- as the community to be organized... in order to improve itself.


Here is the text of the whole speech:

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land � a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America � they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted � for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things � some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions � that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act � not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions � who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them � that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works � whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account � to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day � because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control � and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart � not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort � even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus � and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West � know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment � a moment that will define a generation � it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends � hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism � these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility � a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence � the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed � why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

Charice Will Sing for U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama

Pinoy singing sensation Charice is set to perform two songs to Barack Obama before he is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America.

Today, January 18, the young singing sensation will perform during the pre-inaugural ball to be held at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel. The actual inauguration of Obama is scheduled to take place at Washington D.C. on January 20.

Charice left the Philippines last Friday, January 16, to prepare for the historic event. Obama's staff requested Charice to sing "God Bless America" and "One Moment in Time," a song originally recorded by Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics.

In a previous interview with Star Patroller Mario Dumaual, Charice pointed out, "Dati kumanta ako kay President Arroyo, ngayon kay President Obama naman. Iba po 'yong feeling na isa na namang Filipina ang makakapag-perform internationally."

If she is given the chance to talk with Obama, Charice will most likely tell the first African-American President of the US: "Just wanna say thank you for making this dream come true. This is not only an honor for me, not only for me, but also for the Philippines. Thank you."

Oprah Winfrey, an ardent supporter of Obama's presidential campaign, reportedly lobbied to have Charice included in the pre-inaugural ball. In her eponymous talk show, the female TV host called the Pinay singer as the "the most talented girl in the world" during an episode dubbed as "The World's Smartest Kids."

After performing in the pre-inaugural ball, Charice is scheduled to stay in the United States for almost three months to record her first international debut album to be produced by record producer and composer David Foster.

In the meantime, she is promoting Foster's latest CD-DVD Hitman: David Foster & Friends since she is one of several performers included in the album. Other performers were Kenny G., Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Brian McKnight, Katharine McPhee, Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion.

2008 Person of the Year

TIME Magazine introduces 2008's Person of the Year. See below who made it to the prestige list:

1. Barack Obama

In one of the craziest elections in American history, he overcame a lack of experience, a funny name, two candidates who are political institutions and the racial divide to become the 44th President of the United States. (Click here to know why TIME chose Obama)

2. Henry Paulson

When he arrived in Washington as Secretary of the Treasury in the summer of 2006, Henry M. (Hank) Paulson Jr.'s top priority was to make certain that his department would have independence and clout. If he was giving up the top job at Goldman Sachs, he wasn't doing it for a sinecure. (Read full article here)

3. Nicolas Sarkozy

There are times when Nicolas Sarkozy resembles a force of nature rather than a conventional political leader. He has energy, ideas and vitality in abundance, as he showed in such matters as his handling of the Georgia crisis and the global economic downturn. Of course, as with any new leader, 18 months — Nicolas was elected President of France in May 2007 — is insufficient time to make a final judgment. But certain elements are already clear. (Read full article here)

4. Sarah Palin
In the beginning, she winked. "I was just your average hockey mom," she told us by way of introduction, which was a charming diversion from the reality of the most astonishing political debut in modern times. Sarah Palin did indeed show she could play politics as a contact sport; her motherhood did become central to her message. But average? Not in your wildest dreams. (Read full article here)

5. Zhang Yimou

On the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008, 2 billion TV viewers and thousands in attendance in the now famous Bird's Nest were treated to an unforgettable spectacle at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. (Read full article here)

GQ Magazine 2008 Men of the Year Honorees

GQ magazine has published the list of GQ Men of the Year 2008. The four magazine covers are available on newsstands now and feature President-elect Barack Obama, Mad Men star Jon Hamm, leading man Leonardo DiCaprio and Olympic athlete Michael Phelps.

Michael Phelps, the world's greatest swimmer who won eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has been honored as the 'Golden Boy of the Year' by GQ Magazine.

Other notable honorees in different fields include Leonardo DiCaprio "The Leading Man of the Year', James Franco 'Screen Idol of the Year', John Malkovich 'Mad Genius of the Year', Jason Statham 'Action Hero of the Year', and the newly-elected U.S. President Barack Obama 'Game Changer of the Year' award.

The only rose among the thorns is Megan Fox who was bestowed with the 'Obsession of the Year' award.

Here's the complete list of honorees for GQ Men of the Year Awards 2008:

CHAMPIONS: The Boston Celtics

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: Thom Browne

LEADING MAN: Leonardo DiCaprio

VILLAIN: Aaro Eckhart

THE ARTIST: Shepard Fairey

KILLER YEAR: Brandon Flowers

SCREEN IDOL: James Franco

COMEBACK KID: Josh Hamilton

BREAKOUT: Jon Hamm

LEGEND: Ted Kennedy

THE MOGUL: Seth MacFarlane

MAD GENIUS: John Malkovich

FUNNYMAN: Danny McBride

RADIO GODS: MGMT + M.I.A.

COURT KING: Rafael Nadal

GAME CHANGER: Barack Obama

HEAVY MEDAL HERO: Chris Paul

DRAMA QUEEN: Sean Penn

LEADER OF THE YEAR: General David Petraeus

GOLDEN BOY: Michael Phelps

PRICK: Gordon Ramsay

DAREDEVIL OF THE YEAR: Alain Robert

ICON OF THE YEAR: Philip Roth

ACTION HERO: Jason Statham

LOCAL HERO OF THE YEAR: Neil Willenson

TOUGH GUYS OF THE YEAR: The Men Behind 'The Wire'

BOY GENIUS OF THE YEAR: Mark Zuckerberg

OBSESSION: Megan Fox

Barack Obama Wins US Presidential Election

Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, shattered more than 200 years of history by winning election as the first African-American president of the United States.

"Change has come," Obama told a huge throng of cheering supporters.

“If there is anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where anything is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

“Young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled, Americans have sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of red states and blue states,” he said. “We have been and always will be the United States of America.

“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.” he said to a long roar.

Obama is the 44th president of the United States of America. He will take his oath of office as president on January 20, 2009.

See election results below courtesy of yahoo news: