Health Care Reform Was Senator Kennedy's "Cause of my Life"

President Barack Obama made health care his top domestic priority at Senator Kennedy's urging. With the death of Senator Kennedy a blow has been dealt in the political battle which is now raging over health care reform.

"If the country ends up without healthcare reform, I think divine misfortune will be to blame," said Paul Light of New York University's Center for the Study of Congress.

"Kennedy was a powerhouse in face-to-face negotiations who was sensitive to the need for bipartisanship," Light said. "The debate is now stalled and getting vicious. Kennedy wouldn't have allowed it."

References:

1. Kennedy's force felt in healthcare debate, Reuters

2. The office of Senator Edward M. Kennedy