Posted by:
Shelley Schreiner
Date: 11/2/2009 11:18 am
While the health care battle rages on and speculation about its weakness or strength swirls, I think it's really easy to start to feel frustrated. But while the Republicans are, in the words of David Axelrod, chasing the "shiny object" of health care, this article in the Wall Street Journal reminds me that we've made incredible progress on a number of critical issues.
Remember when President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act just 9 days after taking office, making it easier for women to sue for wage discrimination? Or when he signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which increased regulation over the tobacco industry? Or just last week, when federal hate crime legislation finally was extended to include sexual orientation and gender identification -- 12 years after it was first introduced?
The importance of health care reform and other critical issues can't be overstated, it never hurts to take a moment and celebrate the small victories.