WASHINGTON — Midnight approached and the lawmakers were still debating. Back and forth it went over the role of government in health care.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor stood out for not standing out. Head down, she focused on the mountain before her — the 1,000-plus pages that make up America's Affordable Health Choices Act. But when the meeting finally broke, Castor had added an amendment to the draft to increase funding for trauma centers like those in her hometown of Tampa.

While the struggle over the most complex changes to health care in a generation continues, Castor has been using what she calls a "pleasant persistence" to push for a number of Florida-driven provisions, including one to address the state's doctor shortage. (story here)

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