THE BATTLE FOR HEALTHCARE IN WASHINGTON

From the halls of power inside the U.S. Capitol to the demonstrations on the steps outside, the battle over health care reform raged in Congress in 2009. Despite loud jeers from Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and his fellow Republicans, President Barack Obama pushed ahead with his number-one domestic policy goal and challenged members of Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform before the end of 2009. As right-wing tea party rallies gathered outside the Capitol, the Democrats’ high hopes and ambitious plans peeled away as the so-called public option fell off to the side. A stripped-down health insurance reform bill barely slipped through the Senate on Christmas Eve. But the fight is far from over as both chambers return to Washington in 2010 to reconcile their different versions of the bill. And, so, the battle rages on.