Health Care is Big News on Associated Content

As health care reform was signed into United States law by President Barack Obama yesterday, we at Associated Content noticed some incredible news pieces, opinion, analysis and personal perspectives coming from our Contributors. We'd like to highlight a few of our favorites today. Stay tuned for another great opportunity, coming soon to your Assignment Desk, to explore the health care legislation in depth on Associated Content.

Let's get started with one of our favorite earworms--"I'm Just a Bill," from Schoolhouse Rock! Remember listening to this one in a classroom, or hearing it from your kids who came home from school singing? With your Schoolhouse Rock soundtrack playing, check out Steven Bryan's excellent news piece on HR 3590. There's another great bit of nostalgia at the end of the article, too.

One fascinating local perspective on health care reform came from Brad Sylvester, who delved into New Hampshire's Carol Shea Porter and her vote on HR 3590. Will reform opponents endanger Carol Shea Porter's reelection campaign? Brad, as a New Hampshire voter, gives his take.

If you're ready for a personal health insurance story that's by turns tear-jerking and uplifting, look no farther than the latest from Maria Roth on her beautiful daughter's battle with cancer. The Roth family is hoping for some relief from health insurance red tape when HR 3590 takes effect. It could even help to ensure that Audrey will be able to get health coverage as an adult, despite her childhood health woes.

Another local viewpoint comes from Carol Bengle Gilbert, who covered Maryland's congressional delegation and its six votes in favor of the health care reform package. The Maryland delegation also delivered two votes against the bill. Like many states, Maryland is divided on this hot button issue and its representatives' votes may impact their chances of reelection this November.

In Missouri, the controversy surrounding HR 3590 was illustrated by a split vote, described and detailed by William Browning in a well-researched article combining news reporting and opinion. Missouri is a battleground state politically, supporting a Democratic President and a Republican Governor in 2008.

Conservative politico Mark Whittington has weighed in on health care reform throughout the Obama presidency. His latest missive highlights one potentially troubling portion of HR 3590, a provision that Mark says would exempt Capitol Hill staffers from insurance mandates. Is Congress refusing to take "a dose of its own medicine?"

Lastly, this is a great time to take a second look at one of our 2009 People's Media Award winners, "A Widow's View on the US Health Care Debate." B.L. Boitson's article is just as poignant today than it was when she published it on Associated Content last November. No matter where you stand on the reform bill that passed late Sunday night, it's impossible to read this touching story without feeling sympathy for everyone still struggling to afford or to access health care.

Have you read any other inspiring or thought-provoking health care pieces on Associated Content this week? If so, post a link as a comment on this post or Tweet it to us as @acnews on Twitter!