White House and Democrats are struggling to bring a complex, controversial bill to remake the U.S. health care system to a vote in both houses of Congress before lawmakers recess. A bill passed two key committees Friday.
FOXNews.com
Saturday, July 18, 2009
FOXNews.com
Saturday, July 18, 2009
President Barack Obama continued to push his broad health care overhaul Saturday, defending the plan by calling it fiscally sound and urging Congress not to squander its moment to pass reform.
Republicans stepped up their opposition, labeling the plan as an immense financial burden that shouldn't be rushed.
Adopting an aggressive tone, Obama spent a sixth consecutive day pushing for his top domestic priority. Growing resistance on Capitol Hill -- including from conservative Democrats -- has left White House officials worried they face a tougher route to legislation than they had anticipated.
"This is what the debate in Congress is all about: whether we'll keep talking and tinkering and letting this problem fester as more families and businesses go under and more Americans lose their coverage," Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address. "Or whether we'll seize this opportunity -- one we might not have again for generations -- and finally pass health insurance reform this year, in 2009."
The president's comments come at the end of a week of tumult for the legislation.
All week, Obama tried to project confidence on a subject that has dominated his schedule. During a closed-door meeting with Jewish leaders on Monday, he joked that the only thing more difficult than passing health care legislation might be negotiating peace in the Middle East. And on Friday, he added a last-minute White House appearance to exhort lawmakers not to "lose heart" and urged deeper cost cuts to calm concern over the huge expense of covering millions of uninsured Americans.
He continued that push Saturday as Republicans kept up their criticism.
Republicans stepped up their opposition, labeling the plan as an immense financial burden that shouldn't be rushed.
Adopting an aggressive tone, Obama spent a sixth consecutive day pushing for his top domestic priority. Growing resistance on Capitol Hill -- including from conservative Democrats -- has left White House officials worried they face a tougher route to legislation than they had anticipated.
"This is what the debate in Congress is all about: whether we'll keep talking and tinkering and letting this problem fester as more families and businesses go under and more Americans lose their coverage," Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address. "Or whether we'll seize this opportunity -- one we might not have again for generations -- and finally pass health insurance reform this year, in 2009."
The president's comments come at the end of a week of tumult for the legislation.
All week, Obama tried to project confidence on a subject that has dominated his schedule. During a closed-door meeting with Jewish leaders on Monday, he joked that the only thing more difficult than passing health care legislation might be negotiating peace in the Middle East. And on Friday, he added a last-minute White House appearance to exhort lawmakers not to "lose heart" and urged deeper cost cuts to calm concern over the huge expense of covering millions of uninsured Americans.
He continued that push Saturday as Republicans kept up their criticism.
All President Obama Wants To Do Is Rush To Pass His Bill's Not Giving Anyone A Chance To Read Or Even Think About It!!
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