Unplugged: A Rest Button for Health Care Reform?
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Ted Kennedy passed before his career long dream of health care reform was realized, and it has not taken long for Capitol Hill Democrats and pundits to question what his death would mean for the stalled legislation. On "Washington Unplugged" Thursday, Jonathan Weisman of the Wall Street Journal said that "Kennedy's passing will tone the debate down."
It will "tone the screaming and these town halls down. It will somewhat press the reset button" he told CBS News' Bob Orr. "I don't think its going to carry the day but for the Democrats anything that tones things down is a good thing."
Weisman noted that "within an hour" of Kennedy's passing, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a statement which assured that health care legislation would be passed before the end of the year and in honor of the late senator.
As a longtime advocate for universal health care, Kennedy's death may provide emphasize for that provision in the pending legislation.
The Washington Post's Ezra Klein described the diversity of health care policies the late senator Kennedy advocated for during his career.
"He began as a single payer supporter and then supported everything from Clinton's act to incremental expansion of SCHIP," Klein noted. "I mean the guy was really about getting something done."
Klein argued that rather than Congress taking specific policy cues from the late Kennedy - the biggest lesson gleaned will be a desire to get legislation passed.
Watch the discussion above as well as speculation on the future of Kennedy's Senate seat, and a special feature on Klein as part of our "Unplugged Under 40" series. "Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.
Read more stories on Sen. Kennedy's life and death at CBSNews.com:
CBS News Special: Ted Kennedy – The Last Brother
Sen. Edward Kennedy Dies at Age 77
Mourners Gather For Kennedy Memorial
Kennedy To Be Missed in Health Care Fight
Across the Pond, Irish Praise Hero Abroad
Kennedy Did His Life's Work Until the End
Who Is Heir to Kennedy's Liberal Legacy?
Sen. Byrd: Health Bill Should be Named for Kennedy