Following President Obama's signing of the Reconciliation Bill (See DM 12137), completing the initial struggle to enact health care reform legislation, Republican and Democratic Party leaders expressed opposing sentiments of antagonism and jubilation as the parties began to draw lines and frame talking points on the new law, which will likely be a major issue in upcoming mid-term elections, with each party preparing to disparage the other's stance. The Associated Press reports that various potential Republican 2012 presidential hopefuls are lining up to uniformly condemn the new law, from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

On the Democratic side, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sounded triumphant after the president signed the bill: "Health insurance reform represents remarkable progress for the American people. Today, with President Obama's signature, health care becomes more affordable for the middle class, we begin closing the prescription drug doughnut hole, and we demand accountability from the insurance industry...I salute the efforts of the Members of Congress, particularly Chairman George Miller and many of our newer members, who led the charge for reform, and President Obama, whose visionary leadership made this progress possible."

President Obama singled out the Speaker for her leadership upon signing the final bill Tuesday (DM 12137).
However, also on Tuesday, House Republican Leader John Boehner, an aggressive foe of the health care reform law, released a statement with a collection of national news story clips indicating that the new law will be far more costly than the administration has stated, and featuring a USA Today poll finding that a majority of the public feels that the new law will be too costly. "For the American people, who have always considered lowering costs to be their highest health care priority, ObamaCare is fast becoming just another Washington program that overspends and under-delivers," Boehner stated.

Meanwhile, more states may be initiating lawsuits to challenge the law. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is joining the current multi-state litigation. (See DM 12107). Zoeller stated his concern over the Congressional authority to enact the individual mandate to purchase health insurance as well as the new demands the law makes on the states. Kansas Republicans have introduced legislation that could compel Attorney General Steve Six to challenge the law. Six, a Democrat, is said to be reviewing the reform law and hasn't made a decision to act as yet. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is also urging a legal challenge, and a special legislative session may give the governor the authority to sue.

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