Remembering Kennedy and Looking Forward

On the heels of a well-attended candle light vigil last evening in Civic Plaza in Downtown Albuquerque and an equally well attended rally for health care reform at the Hispanic Cultural Center, we remember late Senator Ted Kennedy and look to the future of health care reform.

"Tens of thousands" of people have been attending the viewing of Kennedy's closed casket in Boston at the JFK Presidential Library in order that they may pay respect to his memory. So crowded was the hall, that viewing was extended until 2am in order to accommodate the 21,000 mourners who wished to see Kennedy. Assorted members of the Kennedy family were also on hand to receive the many heartfelt comments and sympathies of the crowd. The funeral mass is scheduled for Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston with President Obama delivering the eulogy.

As we noted on Wednesday, Kennedy's lifelong goal was a comprehensive and universal reform of health care in this country. Unfortunately, his goal will not be one which he sees in person, but already Senate colleagues are calling for health care legislation to be named in Kennedy's honor.

But despite this untimely death and Kennedy's long standing reputation for bipartisan efforts and compromise, Senate Republicans are not wavering in their approach towards reform. In fact, some Senators are holding town hall meetings which are not open to the public. Obviously, Senate Democrats such as Sen. Claire McCaskill are angry that her colleagues are not holding open meetings but are also not subjecting themselves to the same constituent criticisms that she has endured.

Not only should health care town hall meetings be free and open to the public, but Senate Republicans should stop hindering bipartisan progress on health care reform -- healthy compromise would prove to be a lasting tribute for Kennedy from which all members of Congress and America could benefit.