Obama still confident on healthcare
President Obama said today he still hopes that Congress can vote on a healthcare overhaul bill before its August recess, despite a series of setbacks this week for his top domestic priority.
House leaders hoped to unveil their bill today, but have put that off until at least Monday while they try to bring conservative Democrats, known as the Blue Dog Coalition, back into the fold. Democrats in both the House and Senate are scrambling to come up with a way to pay the estimated $1 trillion cost over the next decade.
UPDATE: In the latest approach to financing the overhaul, House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel told reporters this afternoon that the House bill to be unveiled on Monday would raise $540 billion over the next decade by imposing a 1 percent surtax on Americans with an annual income of more than $350,000. A higher surtax is proposed for people earning $500,000 and $1 million, he said.
Combined with savings promised by hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, including cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, the tax revenue is designed to be enough to pay for a bill costing about $1 trillion.
"Our team is working with members of Congress every day on this issue, and it is my highest legislative priority over the next month," Obama told reporters at the close of the G-8 summit in Italy.
He insisted that Washington is closer "at any time in recent history" to "achieving serious health care reform that cuts costs, provides coverage to American families, allows them to keep their doctors and plans that are working for them."
As both parties and both chambers work through the legislation, the president said, his job is to set "clear parameters" -- cutting costs, emphasizing prevention, covering the nearly 50 million uninsured, and doing it in a way that does not add to the federal deficit.
"There are going to be some tough negotiations in the days and weeks to come, but I'm confident that we're going to get it done," Obama added. "What I'm trying to keep focused on are the people out in states all across the country that are getting hammered by rising premiums. They're losing their jobs and suddenly losing their healthcare."
His full answer at the news conference is below:
Q. I'd like to return to domestic issues, Mr. President -- health care. The momentum seems to have slowed a bit. The Senate Finance Committee is still wrestling with the cost issue. The Blue Dog Democrats, members of your own party, yesterday said they had strong reservations about what's developing so far. I was just wondering, when are you going to be jumping in really full force with this? Do you have any sweeteners planned? What is your push before the August recess?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we jumped in with both feet. Our team is working with members of Congress every day on this issue, and it is my highest legislative priority over the next month.
So I think it's important just to recognize we are closer to achieving serious health care reform that cuts costs, provides coverage to American families, allows them to keep their doctors and plans that are working for them.
We're closer to that significant reform than at any time in recent history. That doesn't make it easy. It's hard. And we are having a whole series of constant negotiations. This is not simply a Democratic versus Republican issue. This is a House versus Senate issue; this is different committees that have different priorities.
My job is to make sure that I've set some clear parameters in terms of what I want to achieve. We have to bend the cost curve on health care, and there are some very specific ways of doing that -- game changers that incentivize quality as opposed to quantity, that emphasize prevention.
There are a whole host of things that I've put on the table that I want to see included. I've said that it's got to be budget neutral, it's got to be deficit neutral, and so whatever bill is produced has to be paid for, and that creates some difficulties because people would like to get the good stuff without paying for it.
And so there are going to be some tough negotiations in the days and weeks to come, but I'm confident that we're going to get it done. And I think that, appropriately, all of you as reporters are reporting on the game. What I'm trying to keep focused on are the people out in states all across the country that are getting hammered by rising premiums. They're losing their jobs and suddenly losing their health care. They are going into debt. Some are going into bankruptcy -- small businesses and large businesses that are feeling enormous pressure. And I'm also looking at the federal budget.
There's been a lot of talk about the deficit and the debt and, from my Republican colleagues, you know, why isn't Obama doing something about this, ignoring the fact that we got into the worst recession since the Great Depression with a $1.3 billion deficit. Fair enough. This is occurring my watch.
What cannot be denied is that the only way to get a handle on our medium- and long-term budget deficits is if we corral and contain health care costs. Nobody denies this. And so my hope is, is that everybody who is talking about deficit reduction gets serious about reducing the cost of health care and puts some serious proposals on the table. And I think it's going to get done.
It is going to be hard, though, because as I said I think in one of the town hall meetings that I had, as dissatisfied as Americans may be with the health care system, as concerned as they are about the prospects that they may lose their job or their premiums may keep on rising, they're also afraid of the unknown. And we have a long history in America of scaring people that they're going to lose their doctor, they're going to lose their health care plans, they're going to be stuck with some bureaucratic government system that's not responsive to their needs. And overcoming that fear -- fear that is often actively promoted by special interests who profit from the existing system -- is a challenge. And so my biggest job, even as my staff is working on the day-to-day negotiations with the House and Senate staffs, my biggest job is to explain to the American people why this is so important and give them confidence that we can do better than we're doing right now.
Q Is it pretty much a do-or-die by the August recess?
THE PRESIDENT: I never believe anything is do-or-die. But I really want to get it done by the August recess.
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Plus...
Health care reform will not succeed if any part of it remains in the hands of the pharmaceutical or insurance industries. They only need a toe-hold to put themselves in a position to foul any health care proposal that includes them. We are already seeing "conservative Democrats" exercising their strength to mitigate parts of the proposed inadequate system now being put forth in support of those two industry's interests, for which they have already been well paid.
I think we should change the definition of "Conservative " to more reflect its nature, not even counting the mindless people who call themselves that, who would be better termed as "dupes", but those who hold office, who are more aptly identified as paid minions of big business who staunchly do the job required of them to collect the meager crumbs the ultra-rich autocrats drop to the floor for them.
What Obama needs to do is convert to a Catholic. He needs to understand that we were educated in school to be responsible people and cherish priceless life. Abortion has nothing to do with responsibility, and on top of that whoever wants to abort will thank us one day for telling them not to. Once he asks for forgiveness of his sins, healthcare and the stock market will thrive. I guarantee it! What's the point of money if we can't have beautiful little babies to enjoy it? Obama needs to understand that those aborting are not his friends but his enemies, and that we, WE are the best friends he will ever have. No excuse! I'm perfectly healthy and I will do my part to not use healthcare at all by exercizing and taking care of my body with vitamins.
Let's prioritize!! Obama needs to put health care reform and carbon cap/trade on hold until the economy is in better shape.
Obama said, "And we have a long history in America of scaring people that...they're going to be stuck with some bureaucratic government system that's not responsive to their needs."
What we have now some bureaucratic private sector profit-driven system that's not responsive to our needs. What's to fear?
The job-based program may be comparable to the vehicle with no brake or safety system as the ailing people who need to take some rest and care are forced to keep working as a consequence of its absurd perception growing their illness and cost.
If the invaluable human health as a fundamental right like all advanced states should be exclusively put in the hand of free market theory, the following prerequisites may have to be satisfied, market never go through up and down. and the premium raise ought to match up with pay raise.
Those who insist on the already failed decays-long cliche need to keep in mind the heartbreaking tears of victims by the absurd, inhumane notion, I suppose.
Bugbuster,
Go read about what not to fear with regards to England and Canada. I know it will be hard for you to become educated but give it a try little boy
GO PUSH YOUR LIFE AGENDA SOMWHERE ELSE!!! I renounced my catholism many, many years ago and my life has thrived. Your way is not the path. Believe it.
Right on Ryan. I was in Germany and my daughter had fallen during lunch and hit her had on a bench. We were sent from clinic to clinic before she was seen 2 days later because of the wait times. Luckily things turned out ok for my daughter...but not so well for Richards.
Hey Godboy,
W Bush was a bible thumper just like you and guess what happened? Right. What is going on in the world is not punishment from a "man in the clouds". It's because of the corruption and lies of our leaders and that includes the pope.
Blue dogs are nothing but running dog dirty dog allies of vile modern Repubs, and as such they are slaves to the Big Health Care masters who have legally bribed them.
"The love of money is the root of..."
Because they place money above human life, they are synonymous with evil, and thereby brand themselves as demons in human form worthy of nothing less than everlasting contempt from all decent people.
Amado, like other doctrinaire absolutist fanatics, thinks the world will be a perfect place if only everybody would put on a tin foil hat and jump on their wagon. Perhaps, Amado, you could tell us where and how will we feed and clothe the hordes of mouths uncontrolled breeding would result in, unless you plan to ration sex to only when it is needed.
Health Care Reform is essential for the economic welfare of the country. One sector is draining too many resources. That true for the individual insured and for every other business sector of the economy. We are in deep trouble if this is not fixed. It would indicate a paralysis of leadership that could lead to the decline of this country relative to its competitors. It also has been a drain on the quality of medicine that a dallor can purchase.
I’m afraid healthcare couldn’t be any worse than my recent experience:
Sun Healthcare Group Inc’s Sunbridge Newport skilled nursing facility where my mother was harmed and died due to blatant disregard for human life. When families complain they’re breaking the law by not staffing properly and have broken equipment, the Corporate powers that be, fly in their flocks of regional employees to request to meet you, then intimidate, i.e., place visiting hours signs on all the doors to the facility that basically gives you one hour after a normal work week to visit your loved ones each week day. (Dept of Justice. Joe Fendrick called the Dept of Health, Jackie Lincer, who demanded they take the signs down within 24 hrs). I was told that Regional employees ask nurses to rewrite nursing records and add this (according to a nurse who refused to). Regional employees even include a former girlfriend of the CEO, Julie Campbell who runs their PAC (Political Action Committee) who was sent by the CEO to aplogize to me for him when their Administrator Gail Conser informed him their broken equipment caused my mother to have a stroke. This was in Newport Beach, California, the same town the CEO lives in. SUN then caused my mother months of suffering (stroke caused her the inability to swallow forever) which along with catching MRSA from them, eventually killed her one year later. All this was due to the fact they refused to repair / replace known broken equipment while under a Calif state injunction for having killed patients in Burlingame, California in 2001 . I have written documents proving top management knew equipment was inoperable and that they did nothing to respond to a critical situation. A blatant disregard for human life = wilful misconduct. (making me eligible for treble damages) -triple the damages of $1.5 Million. But the powers that be prevented that compensation. After major surgery at UCLA for pancreatic precancer that was simply a miracle I survived, my attorney rushed me into mediation while still recovering and disabled, lied to me about the law, coerced and intimidated and threatened me into signing an agreement for damages based solely on SUN’s fraud. He dropped damages for SUN’s very obvious wrongful death, elder abuse, pain & suffering while I was distracted and sick, I sued for malpractice and won –sadly he died 2 weeks later.
SUN can’t bar me for telling how they harmed my mother because I refused to sign a confidentialty agreement after mediaiton -after being told by my attorney that SUN’s CEO was on the phone from his Irvine office with attorneys in the other room and that he would cause me bodily harm if I forced this case to trial. I have absolutely no doubt that the wilful misconduct I can prove by two board members, Mr. Matros and Dr Hunker, could force the Board of Sun Healthcare to ask for his resignation.
This is not rocket science as Buzz Aldrin would say. SUN also cheated the taxpayers of the State of Calif out of millions of dollars in fines the State would have fined for my mother’s death and the four other deaths they were responsible for that I witnessed during my limited time there, had they done their jobs properly. The Dept of Justice turned a blind eye. The Dept of Health didn’t fine the usual $100,000 for her death, nor any of the other four patients there.
However, SUN’s own medical director, Dr L Scott Stoney, wrote an opinion SUN killed her and he quit due to SUN’s management’s lack of response to his pleas for help and other families pleas for help.
Yes, I can testify personally that SUN Healthcare Group Inc, of New Mexico, produces profits for shareholders at the cost of elder abuse and manslaughter.
Do we really want this corporate corruption to continue in America?
Deborah Calvert daughter of the late Evelyn Calvert, Newport Beach, California and former assistant to Buzz Aldrin
Republicans trying to stub a single payer plan are showing their cards now for the private health insurance companies, big pharma. and lobbyists. Why?..... This comes as no surpise as previously they have loved tax cuts for the rich, hesitant to close big business tax loop holes, and generally defend business CEO's men and women, corporate advantaged, rather than a single or family tax payers. You can still have your dirty insurance companies if you wish for your health care. If you are on the outside, without a job, without health insurance, I pity your plight. Only those who have health insurance are hoping for single payer to fail. If you were born with a disability, are afflicted by disease, or suffer a serious accident, should your life be ruined otherwise if you were not employed with health insurance? Big Business as usual. Big Republican Business.
If the health insurers truly believe what they say, that they can not compete with a government plan then it suggests that most or all come from depriving people of medical care.
BG: Too much focus on Socialist issues. So Bye-Bye BG!
The current system is nothing but an instrument to funnel the hard earned meager wealth out of the pockets of the middle-class and deposit them in the pockets of the ultra-rich stock-holders, who gain most of their wealth by milking a system created for just that purpose. Little wonder they have maintained a full court press to keep out the only effective system that can cover all Americans for less cost, the one payer system. Shame on us for letting them get away with it and shame on anyone who supports the soon to be approved "compromise" plan that will leave the foxes still in charge of the chicken coop.
Can anybody fix our health care system !?
The United States of America is bankrupt. Don’t believe it? Consider this: Federal obligations now exceed the collective net worth of all Americans, according to the New York-based Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Washington politicians and bureaucrats have essentially mortgaged everything We the People own so they can keep spending our tax dollars like there’s no tomorrow.
The foundation’s grim calculations are based on June. 30 consolidated federal statements, which showed that Americans’ total household net worth, diminished by falling stock prices and home equity, is $43.5 trillion. But rising costs for unfunded social programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security increased to $76.4 trillion – and that was before the more recent stock market crash, $700 billion bank bailout, and monster federal deficits chalked up in last October and November.
“Given more recent developments, it’s clear that America now owes more than its citizens are worth,” said Foundation president David M. Walker, the former Comptroller-General of the United States who has been trying to warn Americans of the coming financial tsunami for years, to no avail. So, after Uncle Sam bails out bankers, Wall Street gamblers, carmakers and over-their-head homeowners, and health care system, who’ll bail out Uncle Sam?
Repubs and the profit-making actors in health care keep on trying to present England and Canada as scare stories. First of all, they have quite different systems and are only two of the many options out there. Look at Germany, Taiwan, France, Switzerland for the range of options: public-private combinations, some related to employment, others (more rationally) not. Second, England is currently having some issues with costs and therefore service, but Canada is just fine, thank you. Mitch McConnell spouted off in Congress lately about supposed long delays for surgery...turns out he was quoting the longest 10% of waits for each procedure, the average is much less! Typical.
Doesn't anyone else think that the term "for-profit hospital" is obscene? Almost as obscene as that in the wealthiest country in the world, hafl of all personal bankruptcies are due to medical bills...and most of these people had what we call "insurance."
If you, as opponents to the much-needed, long overdue health care reform, get lost in the deep, steep mountains, or if you are drowning in the water by all your fault, the rescue team run by government will lift you out of such critical status at the huge cost of tax-payer's money as a human life and health can never be exchanged with anything on earth.
And it may be a major roll of government to protect people from any dangers and that's why every modernized state has public policy in place, I guess.
Those who have a different view over this reform, Please keep what you like and respect the others' choice and diversity that the U.S. is proud of on the basis of democracy.
Just rent the doc. SICKO by michael moore...If you still dont think national health care is needed then carefully (because you probably dont have coverage now )pull the republican out of your ASS..
Because wealthy interests control government through legalized bribery, no meaningful reform will be enacted.
Then, Obama will be enabled to continue making fools of progressives and all those who ache for justice by saying, "I tried, I really tried (sniff)"
PLEASE, PLEASE READ THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH! HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PAY $19.17 PER MONTH FOR HEALTH CARE? THIS IS NO COME ON, NOT SELLING ANYTHING, NO HOAX.
It's the truth, and it may shock the stuffing out of some of you.
I have commented more than once about the health insurance plan the military has that I use because I am a dependent of a military retiree (who is a wwii veteran and has more than 20 years of military service).
It is the equivalent of national health care, and it works. I receive excellent care.
How much does it cost?
My premium for my health care (just me, I've no family other than my husband who is on medicare) is cheap.
So, how much is it?
Are you sitting down folks?
$19.17 per month.
$12.00 co-pay for office visits.
$20.00 co-pay for ambulance ride to ER.
$3.00 for a 1-month supply of a generic medication at the local pharmacy; $3.00 for a 3-month supply if I use mail order; nothing if I go to a military pharmacy.
$9.00 for a 1-month supply of a name brand unless it's a brand new medication then it is $22.00; $9.00 for a 3-month supply of a name brand via mail order; free if I go to the military hospital.
No hassles or delays in seeing specialists or being hospitalized or having surgeries. I have had major surgeries without any hassles or complaints. I choose my own doctors and hospitals.
How is this possible?
Because the government negotiated the prices with the doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, etc.
Now do you understand how cheap health care can be?
It's not that it can't be done. It's just that the insurance and pharmaceutical companies don't want it done and the GOP is in their hip pockets -- so the GOP screams socialism and denial of coverage to scare Americans away from a system that works.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it opens your eyes to the truth about how the insurance and pharmaceutical companies have been ripping off America for decades with the collusion of the GOP and other parties who refuse to give America the same quality of care that they themselves receive.
Now, tell me that it can't be done in America. It already has been done.
7/11/2009 5:10:56 PM
" I never believe anything is do-or-die"??
Hahaha: Single Payer health care -- which O'Blabla and His Congressional associates ALL enjoy, for life, at public expense -- is EXACTLY "do-or-die".
I don't know whether to be surprised by Obama breaking his campaign pledge not to raise taxes higher than 1990's levels so soon: I always knew he'd do it, but before his second term? I thought he was too smart for that. Counting the stunning alienation of the Jewish vote, the Republicans have probably picked up 7-10 points on him in the 2012 Presidential race; so where the Republicans were down 25 points, they are probably down 15-18 points now.