By Ceci ConnollyWashington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, July 22, 2009; 9:03 PM President Obama, confronted by increasing doubts about the impact of widespread changes to the nation's health-care system, sought to assure middle-class Americans on Wednesday that the landmark legislation he envisions would improve their quality of life and is essential to curing the nation's economic ills. This StoryObama: Health Care Reform Is Essential to Rebuilding EconomyObama Explains Rush for Health Care Overhaul"This is not just about 47 million Americans who have no health insurance," he said in a televised news conference, the fourth of his presidency. "Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage." Six months after his inauguration, Obama finds his signature domestic issue stalled on Capitol Hill. Shortly before he spoke Wednesday, Democratic leaders in Congress acknowledged that they are still struggling to agree on legislation that is expected to cost at least $1 trillion over the next decade. With his ambitious timetable for legislative action in jeopardy, Obama took to the airwaves to repeat his case that comprehensive health-care reform is critical to the nation's overall economic well-being. "That is why I've said that even as we rescue this economy from a full-blown crisis, we must rebuild it stronger than before," he said. "And health insurance reform is central to that effort." Polls show that most Americans believe there is a need to improve a system that is among the costliest and least effective in the world, but there is widespread unease about how the changes might affect those who are generally satisfied with their care. Obama attempted to shift the discussion Wednesday from legislative haggling to an appeal to Americans' everyday lives. "I realize that with all the charges and criticisms being thrown around in Washington, many Americans may be wondering, 'What's in this for me? How does my family stand to benefit from health insurance reform?' " he said in setting the theme of his speech. "Tonight I want to answer those questions." Specifically, he promised that almost every American would benefit from a system that provides "more security and more stability." He pledged insurance market changes that would enable nearly all Americans to obtain coverage and suggested that everyone would be guaranteed preventive care, such as checkups and mammograms. In an interview with Washington Post Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt earlier in the day, he also said that meaningful reform must tackle the twin challenges of covering the uninsured and containing skyrocketing medical costs. "I think that it's important to do both," he said. "I think it's important for us to make sure that 46 million people who don't have health insurance get it. And I think it's important for us to bend the cost curve, separate and apart from coverage issues." Obama suggested that the legislation would reduce overall health costs by eliminating expensive and unnecessary duplication and arming doctors and patients with information "about what works and what doesn't." As he put it: "Why would we want to pay for things that don't work?" As his fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill wrestled with intraparty divisions over the legislative details, Obama took up the partisan battle with Republicans who have battered the legislation's costs and have suggested that Democrats are attempting to rush its passage. CONTINUED 1 2 Next >
President Obama, confronted by increasing doubts about the impact of widespread changes to the nation's health-care system, sought to assure middle-class Americans on Wednesday that the landmark legislation he envisions would improve their quality of life and is essential to curing the nation's economic ills.
"This is not just about 47 million Americans who have no health insurance," he said in a televised news conference, the fourth of his presidency. "Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage."
Six months after his inauguration, Obama finds his signature domestic issue stalled on Capitol Hill. Shortly before he spoke Wednesday, Democratic leaders in Congress acknowledged that they are still struggling to agree on legislation that is expected to cost at least $1 trillion over the next decade.
With his ambitious timetable for legislative action in jeopardy, Obama took to the airwaves to repeat his case that comprehensive health-care reform is critical to the nation's overall economic well-being.
"That is why I've said that even as we rescue this economy from a full-blown crisis, we must rebuild it stronger than before," he said. "And health insurance reform is central to that effort."
Polls show that most Americans believe there is a need to improve a system that is among the costliest and least effective in the world, but there is widespread unease about how the changes might affect those who are generally satisfied with their care. Obama attempted to shift the discussion Wednesday from legislative haggling to an appeal to Americans' everyday lives.
"I realize that with all the charges and criticisms being thrown around in Washington, many Americans may be wondering, 'What's in this for me? How does my family stand to benefit from health insurance reform?' " he said in setting the theme of his speech. "Tonight I want to answer those questions."
Specifically, he promised that almost every American would benefit from a system that provides "more security and more stability." He pledged insurance market changes that would enable nearly all Americans to obtain coverage and suggested that everyone would be guaranteed preventive care, such as checkups and mammograms.
In an interview with Washington Post Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt earlier in the day, he also said that meaningful reform must tackle the twin challenges of covering the uninsured and containing skyrocketing medical costs.
"I think that it's important to do both," he said. "I think it's important for us to make sure that 46 million people who don't have health insurance get it. And I think it's important for us to bend the cost curve, separate and apart from coverage issues."
Obama suggested that the legislation would reduce overall health costs by eliminating expensive and unnecessary duplication and arming doctors and patients with information "about what works and what doesn't." As he put it: "Why would we want to pay for things that don't work?"
As his fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill wrestled with intraparty divisions over the legislative details, Obama took up the partisan battle with Republicans who have battered the legislation's costs and have suggested that Democrats are attempting to rush its passage.
Comments are closed for this post.
