Kennedy, Baucus back Obama on healthcare

President Obama told Congress and the nation that a healthcare overhaul can't wait -- and backed up his words by calling today for a $634 billion reserve fund as a down payment on the changes.

The two key US senators working on healthcare have Obama's back as well, jointly penning an op-ed piece in today's Wall Street Journal.

"Some argue that repairing the health-care system now is impossible, given the urgency and high cost of ending the financial crisis. The claim is that we can fix one problem or the other -- but not both. In truth, the two are inextricably intertwined: Solving the nation's health-care crisis is a fundamental part of healing our economy," write Senator Edward M. Kennedy, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee.

The two Democrats add that "there is also a moral imperative to follow economic recovery efforts with health reform. If Congress can bail out the nation's banks, surely we can help families get the quality, affordable health care they deserve."

They conclude, "Health is a public good worthy of major, long-term investment. Our starting point will be the down payment of more than $600 billion that the president included in the budget released today. The challenge of crafting this public policy is certainly large. But just as Congress and the president met the first challenges of restoring our nation's economy, we must also keep our commitment to reforming health care -- now."