I don't get it?

On Christmas Eve, in true dramatic fashion Sen. Byrd from West Virginia was wheeled into the Senate in a wheelchair and cast his vote for a healthcare reform plan. It passed 60-39 (one Rep. senator was too busy to cast his 'no' vote). The House already passed the bill and reform was on the way, right?

But here is where I get lost. So, the House and the Senate passed the bill but now that a Republican Senator from Mass. was voted in I am hearing reform will not be happening anytime soon. Now I consider myself savvy in current events, political science, etc. but how many times does a bill have to be voted on?

Furthermore why are so many elected leaders and their constituents opposed to healthcare reform? Don't they realize how broken our healthcare system has become? I wonder how many out there think this bill is a form of socialized medicine or that the government will choose their doctor? I finally found a simple list of items that explained what we will be missing out on if the bill does not pass (even though it already passed).

1. Like auto insurance everyone will be required to have health insurance. If you cannot afford health insurance programs will assist with the funding. If you do not you can be fined.
2. Small businesses can purchase government regulated health plans to keep their costs down.
3. You cannot be denied health coverage based on preexisting condition (this one is huge to us...Heidi still has 6 years before her preexisting condition would be waved).
4. Medicaid will now be eligible for anyone who make less than a whopping $14,440 and not just those with disabilities or pregnant women.
5. Out-of-pocket expenses would be capped by family's income and not what your insurance provider says.
6. Riskier customers cannot be charged astronomical premiums. Older people can only be charged 3X more than younger ones, smokers 1.5X more than non-smokers and women can no longer be charged more because of their gender.
7. If a family of four does not make $88,200 a year they will be eligible for assistance to pay for their premiums.
8. Medicare prescription drugs will be discounted 50%.
9. Kids can stay on their parents' plan until 26 (20-somethings account for 30% of the uninsured).

This stuff looks great to me. I would prefer plans similar to those in Europe and Canada, for the most part they are happy with their medical care but this is a start. So what's the big deal? Why is this plan being opposed? Does the opposition have a better idea or is it purely political? Boy, I hope they have another idea and it is not political because if it is just political that's just slimy.

I feel strongly about this issue because we are running out of time. My wife and I were told to get a divorce if we wanted any government assistance when she was diagnosed with cancer while I have known many families use Medicaid to pay for their planned pregnancies. I'm sick of seeing the rich get richer through sick people. I hate seeing lawyers sue for every mistake a healthcare professional makes and finally, I truly believe healthcare is a right for all and not a privilege. Well, we came close to reform this time...maybe in another 10-15 years.