President Barack Obama insisted early Monday morning that the health care bill cleared for his signature by the House less than an hour earlier was the product of bipartisanship even though no Republicans voted for it.

Obama called the House vote “a victory for the American people, and a victory for common sense.”

Obama also praised the reconciliation bill as a package of improvements that made the core legislation better while striking provisions that did not belong in there.

Though cautious not to state that the fight was over and the war was won, Obama nonetheless sought to convey the sense that any further dilatory tactics by Republicans in the Senate would be futile gestures.

“Some have predicted another siege of parliamentary maneuvering in order to delay adoption of these improvements,” Obama said. “I hope that’s not the case. It’s time to bring this debate to a close.”

Obama said the legislation was “major” but not “radical,” and he acknowledged that it was not perfect, “but it moves us decisively in the right direction.”