Obama Tells Indiana Crowd Health Care Overhaul Will Pass
Speaking before a crowd in Wakarusa, Ind., on Wednesday, President Obama said that he will make sure Congress sends him a health reform bill by the end of the year, with or without the support of Republicans, Reuters reports.
"I promise you, we will pass reform by the end of this year because the American people need it," adding, "We're going to have to make it happen" (Whitesides/Smith, Reuters, 8/5).
Obama's language on Wednesday "reflected a growing sense among Democrats that they may have to carry the legislation ⦠with votes from lawmakers of their own party, or at best, a handful of Republicans," the AP/Houston Chronicle reports (Feller/Alonso-Zaldivar, AP/Houston Chronicle, 8/6).
MSNBC Interview
Obama in an interview with MSNBC after the Indiana appearance said, "I think that at some point, sometime in September, we're just going to have to make an assessment," noting that he favors a plan that would reduce the growth of health care costs, improve quality of care and regulate the insurance market.
He added, "I would prefer Republicans working with us on that because I think it's in the interest of everybody. That shouldn't be a partisan issue" (Reuters, 8/5).
White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle said, "In the past two weeks the president has probably spent a third of his time on health care talks, speaking to members of Congress in person or on the phone" (Bolton, The Hill, 8/5). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.