Obama: Budget Must Address Rising Health Care Costs

During a prime-time news conference on Tuesday night, President Obama said that it would be impossible to balance the budget if the government does not curb health care costs and boost economic growth. Obama's budget proposal calls for $624 billion for health care reform over the next 10 years. A plan released Tuesday by Senate Democrats does not set a dollar figure for health care overhaul.

• "Obama Says Any Budget Has To Tackle Health Care" (AP/Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3/24).
• "Democrats in Congress Are Ready to Pare Budget" (Herszenhorn/Hulse, New York Times, 3/25).