"Lion of the Senate" Ted Kennedy Passes Away

Massachusetts' senior Senator Ted Kennedy has lost his battle with brain cancer last night. Regardless of party stripe or perceived or real imperfections as a man, the country has lost one of its all-time best legislators. A very short list of his accomplishments:

* Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
* National Cancer Act of 1971
* Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974
* COBRA Act of 1985
* Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986
* Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
* Ryan White AIDS Care Act (1990)
* Civil Rights Act of 1991
* Health Insurance Portability and Accountabiity Act of 1996
* Mental Health Parity Act (1996, 2008)
* State Children’s Health Insurance Program (1997)
* No Child Left Behind Act (2002)
* Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (2009)

In July, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed The Affordable Health Choices Act, “landmark legislation that will reduce health costs, protect individuals’ choice in doctors and plans, and assure quality and affordable health care for all Americans.” Party leaders and the opposition spoke of his abilities to work across the aisle with honesty and without retribution. John McCain spoke about the state of health care reform, stating that Ted Kennedy's absence has made a huge difference. McCain said "Ted Kennedy comes as close to being indispensable as any individual I've ever known in the Senate because he had a unique way of sitting down with the parties at the table and making the right concessions, which really are the essence of successful negotiations."

Last month, when President Obama bestowed him the Congressional Medal of Honor, the award his brother John Kennedy created, Ted Kennedy said, “I am profoundly grateful to President Obama for this extraordinary honor. My life has been committed to the ideal of public service which President Kennedy wanted the Medal of Freedom to represent. To receive it from another President who prizes that same ideal of service and inspires so many to serve is a great privilege that moves me deeply.”

The Lion of the Senate has left the building.