Health bill suits the working class

Well, it's been a long time coming. Health care reform has now become law.

I, for one, am proud of our president and his Democratic colleagues for having the courage and intestinal fortitude to follow this through. No help from Republicans, and the fear and hate misinformation from those on the far right was not enough to keep this historic legislation from becoming law.

This bill is neither socialism nor a budget buster. According to the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will lower the deficit by billions over the first 10 years. And by over a trillion dollars over 20 years. It does nothing to take over the existing insurance company system. What it does is even the playing field a little between us and our health insurance carriers.

During the George W. Bush years, the CBO concluded that the Medicare Part D would add over $300 billion, the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 would add another $1.3 trillion to the deficit. Please tell where was the outrage from the right and the tea party then?

Let's make some things clear. This bill in not perfect. Some say it goes to far, others not enough. But while we can spend billions on tax cuts for the most wealthy, and billions to Wall Street and the banks, don't forget the billions to the defense contractors. Yes, this bill is for the American people, the average working class, which most of you and I are a part. As President Obama said when this bill passed, "This is what real change looks like." I agree.

Edward Tobolik

Roselle