Bill Clinton urges passage of health-reform bill, warning failure would be 'a colossal blunder'

By Garance Franke-Ruta

Former president Bill Clinton waded in the debate on the health-care reform bill Thursday, urging support for its passage and warning "America can't afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good."

"This is a good bill," he wrote in a statement released by the William J. Clinton Foundation. "It increases the security of those who already have insurance and gives every American access to affordable coverage; and contains comprehensive efforts to control costs and improve quality, with more information on best practices, and comparative costs and results. The bill will shift the power away from the insurance companies and into the hands of consumers."

And he urged that those wavering in their support of it seize the mantle of history and act to insure its passage, despite their misgivings. "Our only responsible choice is the path of action. Does this bill read exactly how I would write it? No. Does it contain everything everyone wants? Of course not. But America can't afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good," he wrote.

"Take it from someone who knows: these chances don't come around every day. Allowing this effort to fall short now would be a colossal blunder -- both politically for our party and, far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health of our country."