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Obama Defends Health Care Overhaul

By PHILIP ELLIOTT and DAVID ESPO
,
AP
posted: 111 DAYS 17 HOURS AGO
comments: 4142
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WASHINGTON (July 18) - President Barack Obama said Saturday his health care overhaul is financially sound, but a new analysis by congressional budget experts of emerging House legislation said it would increase deficits by $239 billion over a decade.
It was the sixth consecutive day Obama sought to keep the focus on his chief domestic priority in the face of mounting resistance on Capitol Hill, including conservative Democrats. Republicans also renewed their criticism.
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The United States is the only developed nation that does not have a comprehensive national health care plan for all its citizens, and Obama campaigned on a promise to offer affordable health care to all Americans.
However, the recession and a deepening budget deficit have made it difficult to win support for costly new programs. Obama says that overhauling health care is vital to the United States' long-term economic recovery.
"I want to be very clear: I will not sign on to any health plan that adds to our deficits over the next decade," the president said in his weekly radio and Internet address. "And by helping improve quality and efficiency, the reforms we make will help bring our deficits under control in the long-term," he added.
The president's remarks were released late Friday, a few hours before an update by the Congressional Budget Office said the overall cost of the House bill would "result in a net increase in the federal budget deficit of $239 billion over the 2010-2019 period." The estimate included the cost of higher Medicare fees for doctors, an important ingredient of the measure for the American Medical Association. Medicare is the government-sponsored health insurance for the elderly, and the AMA, which represents physicians, endorsed the bill late last week.
The CBO analysis said the bill would result in a reduction in the deficit from 2010-2014, before it began to add red ink in gradually increasing amounts for the next five years.
Administration officials could not be reached for comment immediately.
About 50 million of America's 300 million people are without health insurance. The government provides coverage for the poor and elderly, but most Americans rely on private insurance, usually received through their employers. However, not all employers provide insurance and not everyone can afford to buy it on their own. With unemployment rising, many Americans are losing their health insurance when they lose their jobs.
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At a press conference on Wednesday night, President Barack Obama tied health-care reform to economic recovery, and assailed critics of his plan. "This debate is not a game for these Americans, and they cannot afford to wait for reform any longer," he said.
AP
AP
Obama has said consistently the current drive for health care could be the last for the foreseeable future if it does not succeed.
"This is what the debate in Congress is all about: whether we'll keep talking and tinkering and letting this problem fester as more families and businesses go under and more Americans lose their coverage," Obama said in his weekly address. "Or whether we'll seize this opportunity — one we might not have again for generations — and finally pass health insurance reform this year, in 2009."
Through the week, Obama tried to project confidence about his approach to cover millions of uninsured people. During a private meeting with Jewish leaders on Monday, he joked that the only thing more difficult than passing health care legislation might be negotiating Mideast peace.
At a late scheduled White House appearance Friday, he appealed to lawmakers not to "lose heart" and asked for deeper cost cuts to calm concern over the huge expense.
Republicans were not swayed.
"The president and some Democrats insist we must rush this plan through," said Sen. Jon Kyl. "Why? Because the more Americans know about it, the more they oppose it. Something this important needs to be done right, rather than done quickly."
Two House committees on Friday approved their parts of the bill over Republican objections. That left one more to act. But Democrats facing tough re-election bids or representing conservative districts demanded additional measures to hold down costs.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-07-18 15:57:20

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caslideurh

01:49 AMAug 12 2009

Someone please! Get to Obama and ask him how paying for health care for WELFARE RECIPIENTS and ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and lazy ass DRUG USERS who can't hold a job and PRISON INMATES who have served no useful purpose in our society and FOREIGNERS who walk ashore who have never paid dime one into any American system that supports such insurances; SOMEONE PLEASE ASK HOW THIS COVERAGE IS ALREADY PAID FOR? IT CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN PAID FOR BY THEM!

AVG RATING:
(9)
Teb829 Click to read Low-rated and possibly explicit material.

Joyces78626

07:50 AMAug 08 2009

the only health insurance bill passed should be the same benefits as president and congress gets. if it is good enough for them, the Americans deserve the same.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Igreen2ll5

12:22 PMJul 23 2009

Obama is way out of his depth. It seems that EVERYTHING his above his pay grade. "The presidency is no place for on-the-job training".....

AVG RATING:
(12)

resibabe25

05:15 PMJul 22 2009

why so fast, something is wrong, you think things over before you do something so drastic, im so glad he is losing popularity, he doesnt deserve to be in the seat of president, he is useless unless he is told what to say on the teleprompter, why dont he sit on a persons lap, guess what he is the dummy that someone else telling him what to say, do and everything else. i hate him.

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(14)

VLEEGAINES

01:25 AMJul 22 2009

July 21, 2013 AP News - Washington D.C. TEENS ARRESTED FOR FRENCH FRY POSSESSION Federal authorities today arrested two adults and three minors, following a month long undercover investigation, in which illegal french fries were found in the possession of the minor children. Adults face multiple charges in the matter ranging from Contributing to the Obesity of Minors, a felony to simple fry possession, a misdemeanor, which when convicted, will carry a prison sentence of 8-10 years and a $500,000 fine. Agents of the Federal Eating Habits Taskforce spearheaded the operation in neighboring Arlington, with assistance of local police departments. The Taskforce was created following federal legislation paving the way for the government's take-over of all health care in America. The American Healthcare Act, of 2009, was soon found to require an enforcement arm to insure compliance by the public, thus the U.S. Department of Healthy Citizens was commis...

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Tumblincreek1

01:15 AMJul 22 2009

JUST PUT AN UGLY LITTLE UPSIDE-DOWN TOOTHBRUSH MUSTACHEON OBAMA.......................AND YOU HAVE...................................................................H ITLER!

AVG RATING:
(11)

JoeFarro

11:47 PMJul 22 2009

I think it is truly amazing that anyone can think that if you do not agree with President Obama the "whole world views you as greedy, ignorance, hateful and prejudice" as poor misguided soul has just posted. That my friend is just plain one sided stupidity. President Obama has the stage and if he can not preform he will not take a curtain call. Unless the Government takes over the theaters also. And that may happen.

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(16)

ThePips9502

09:07 PMJul 22 2009

WHY ANTY THIS NUMBER 1?

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(2)
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President Barack Obama said Saturday his health care overhaul is financially sound, but a new analysis by congressional budget experts of emerging House legislation said it would increase deficits by $239 billion over a decade.