“We feel like we’ve been pregnant for 17 months, let’s get on with it already.” Those were the words of Democrat Rep. Louise Slaughter, chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, on Saturday, as she moved health reform one step closer to the finish line.

Well put. After all the hearings and debates and town halls; after the Gang of Six broke up and Scott Brown got elected; after Glenn Beck convinced a lot of people that Democratic health reform is socialism; after Barack Obama’s poll numbers slid and slid and slid…It’s time for lawmakers to cast what could be the second to last vote on comprehensive health care reform this year.

On the eve of what he hopes will be an historic political and policy achievement, President Obama gave an impassioned speech to House Democrats Saturday on the merits of liberalism, hoping to inspire few more to vote yes on the legislation. Speaker Nancy Pelosi continued to round up votes Saturday and was reportedly a handful away from the 216 she needs to pass the Senate health bill and a package of changes to that legislation.