WASHINGTON – What a year it has been for the Accountable Care Act.
In commemoration of the law's first birthday on March 23, here's a glimpse of the year in quotes.
"This is what change looks like." – President Barack Obama, March 22, 2010.
"Bottom line: The health reform bill may not be perfect, but it expands coverage to 32 million people." – Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, March 21, 2010.
"We saw this with the Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act – Constitutional challenges were brought to all three … and all of those challenges failed." – Stephanie Cutter, Assistant to the President for Special Projects, Aug. 2, 2010.
"Today, the House has taken the first steps towards repealing the job-killing healthcare law and replacing it with common-sense reforms that lower costs and protect jobs." – Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), Jan. 7, 2011.
"Repealing the healthcare reform law will only move our healthcare system backward – and millions of patients simply can't afford that." – Vivek Murthy, MD, president of Doctors for America, Jan. 20, 2011.
"There's a lot of rhetoric out there. Where does that leave the consumer?" – Susan Voss, president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Jan. 20, 2011.
"I must reluctantly conclude that Congress exceeded the bounds of its authority in passing the act with the individual mandate." – Florida Federal Judge Roger Vinson, Jan. 23, 2011.
"The health reform law makes what is already a costly and administratively burdensome endeavor – the sponsorship of a simple group health insurance plan – even more expensive and more hassle-prone." – Mike Brewer, president of the Lockton Benefit Group, March 11, 2011.
"By putting our appeal on the fast track, the court is sending a strong signal that time is of the essence in determining the constitutionality of this law." – Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, March 21, 2011.
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Do we have to wait any longer to fix this mess? Or is one year enough?" Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), March 23, 2011.