First Edition: August 27, 2009

Today's news: Speculation begins regarding the impact Sen. Kennedy's death will have on the health reform debate and the Democrat's prospects for success.

A Timeline Of Kennedy's Health Care Achievements And Disappointments
Sen. Edward Kennedy never had to worry about getting quality healthcare, but he spent much of his career seeking to guarantee that all Americans had that same access to health services he had. "Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to," he wrote in Newsweek last month. "This is the cause of my life" (Kaiser Health News).

Recalling Kennedy: Health Care Players Reflect On His Career
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy knew the rhythms and rules of Congress better than most of his colleagues. While his public persona was one of a raging liberal, the Massachusetts Democrat was a pragmatic lawmaker who created alliances with Republicans to pass major legislation helping people with AIDS, creating a new health care program for children and barring discrimination against people with disabilities (Kaiser Health News).

Kennedy Biographer Adam Clymer: Kennedy Shaped Obama's Health Care Agenda
Adam Clymer covered Congress as a Washington correspondent for the New York Times and the Baltimore Sun, beginning in 1963, the year after Edward Kennedy was elected to the Senate. He is the author of a remarkable biography, "Edward M. Kennedy," which captures the sweep and breadth of Kennedy's remarkable half century of public service in the Senate. KHN's Eric Pianin talked with Clymer (Kaiser Health News). Listen to the interview.

Both Parties Mourn Loss Of Kennedy In Health-Care Debate
As Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's death suddenly quieted the national debate over health-care reform, some Democratic lawmakers suggested Wednesday that the passing of such a prominent advocate for universal health coverage may represent an opportunity to hit the reset button on that issue (The Washington Post).

Kennedy Death Adds Volatile Element To Health Fight
The death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy has quickly become a rallying point for Democratic advocates of a broad health care overhaul, a signature Kennedy issue that became mired in partisanship while he fought his illness away from the Capitol (The New York Times).

In Kennedy, Democrats Lose A Top Warrior For Healthcare Reform
As the nation mourned the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy on Wednesday, President Obama and members of Congress began to size up the toll that his loss will have on Democratic efforts to redirect the nation's domestic and foreign policies (Los Angeles Times).

Will Kennedy's Death Revitalize Health Care Push?
Exactly one year before Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy's death from cancer Tuesday, the longtime senator and scion of one the nation's most famous families took a labored walk to the podium at the Democratic National Convention and declared guaranteed health care for every American the "cause of my life" (NPR).

Vote Is Lost At Key Point
Democrats quickly tried to turn the death of Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy into a new spur for their stalled health-care overhaul effort. But the liberal icon's passing could as well hobble the campaign, by depriving the majority party of a key vote at a critical juncture in the debate (The Wall Street Journal).

Democrats: Win One For Ted Kennedy On Health Care Reform
"Let's win one for Teddy" became the new health care reform rallying cry Wednesday, as Democrats hoped an emotional outpouring over Sen. Ted Kennedy's death would give reform efforts a badly needed boost. But the political reality is more stark – as insiders predict the impact of Kennedy's death is likely to be felt most in the legislative math. Democrats no longer have the 60 votes they need to pass a reform bill (Politico).

Health Gavel A Tough Call For Dodd
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has not made a decision about whether he wants to take over an important chairmanship left vacant by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (The Hill).

What Will Happen To Kennedy's Senate Seat?
While funeral preparations for the Democratic senator proceed, Massachusetts legislators are deciding whether to honor Senator Kennedy's request to change the way the state fills a vacant Senate seat (The Christian Science Monitor).

Patrick Backs Push To Appoint Successor
Governor Deval L. Patrick, breaking his silence on the future of Edward M. Kennedy's Senate seat, yesterday embraced Kennedy's request that the governor be given the power to appoint someone to the seat until voters can choose a permanent successor in a special election (The Boston Globe).

Elderly Have Their Own Concerns On Health Overhaul
Turns out you can fear a government takeover of health care even if the government already took over your health care (The Associated Press).

Abortion Is New Front In Health Battle
Anti-abortion groups are gearing up for a battle in the fall over health-care legislation, another headache for Democrats who already face concerns about the measure's cost and reach (The Wall Street Journal).

Dennis Rivera Leads Labor Charge For Health Reform
For more than a decade, Dennis Rivera was New York's mightiest labor leader, running a union of 300,000 health care workers that often bent Albany to its will as it scared - and angered - governors, Democratic and Republican, with its hard-hitting ads (The New York Times). 
 

Sign up to receive this list of First Edition headlines via email. Check out all of Kaiser Health News' email options including First Edition and Breaking News alerts on our Subscriptions page.