With the passing of Sen. Ted Kennedy, we’ve lost so much, but perhaps what is felt most acutely at this particular moment is our loss of a long-time national leader and tireless champion of health care reform.
It’s now up to all of us to see health care reform through. We can do so both by living up to the values behind his belief in health care reform—that quality health care coverage should be a fundamental right, not a privilege—and also by remembering his ability to effectively negotiate difficult reform into fruition.
Sen. Kennedy was a masterful negotiator, able to reach across the aisle to bridge political divides and forge a consensus on so many important legislative matters of our day.
Our thoughts are with Sen. Kennedy’s family, including our own Rep. Patrick Kennedy, in this time of sadness.
Yet we also have an opportunity to build on Sen. Kennedy’s legacy by reaching a consensus to ensure health care for all Americans, the cause of his life. As our federal lawmakers return to Washington next week, I hope they will keep Sen. Kennedy’s skill and willingness to negotiate consensus in their hearts and minds as they tackle health care reform.