Obama Pushes Health Bill on Capitol Hill

(AP)  Last Updated 4:31 p.m. ET

President Barack Obama appealed directly to senators' desire for history-making change and their short-term political fears Sunday in urging them to stand together and overhaul the nation's health care system.

At the request of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Mr. Obama made a trip to the Capitol during a rare weekend legislative session to ask rank-and-file Democrats to work for compromise and do it quickly. Vice President Joe Biden joined Obama for the closed-door meeting.

Greeted by applause, President Obama spoke for 45 minutes and took no questions, according to several lawmakers. He highlighted the progress he said his administration has made on jobs, and focused on the implications for remaking a health care system that represents one-sixth of the economy.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said Mr. Obama described the health care bill as the "most significant social legislation in decades so don't lose it."

Reid called the weekend session as he races to finish the 10-year, nearly $1 trillion bill by Christmas. The legislation would provide coverage to more than 30 million additional people over the next decade with a new requirement for nearly everyone to purchase insurance. There would be new marketplaces where people could shop for and compare insurance plans, and lower-income people would get subsidies to help them afford coverage.

The federal-state Medicaid program for the poor would grow, and there would be a ban on unpopular insurance company practices such as denying coverage based on medical history.

With midterm congressional elections looming next year, Democrats are determined to revamp health care, achieving a long-sought goal that has proven elusive for decades.

"In short, he (Obama) pledged to work with us in any meaningful way that he can. .... There are still a few things we have to work out in the bill, but issues are being narrowed as we speak," Reid told reporters after the meeting.

President Obama and Reid must unite liberals and moderates in the 60-member caucus, even as moderates balk over abortion and the option of government-run health insurance. Sixty is the precise number needed to overcome Republican stalling tactics in the 100-member Senate, so Reid doesn't have a vote to spare.

"I think if we don't deliver, we've got a problem," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., when asked on a Sunday talk show about the political consequences for Democrats should they fail to produce a bill.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care

Moderate and liberal lawmakers met throughout the day Saturday to try to find a compromise on the government insurance plan that they could all support and that could also potentially attract Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, the one Republican to vote for the Democrats' health overhaul bill in committee.

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., the second-ranking Senate GOP leader, said that right now his party remained united against the Democratic bill, which he complained would "get the government very deeply involved into health care at an enormous expense."

A new idea being discussed was national nonprofit insurance plans that would be administered by the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the popular Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., a key centrist, was enthusiastic about the idea, which she's proposed in different forms in the past. "I think it bodes well for being able to do what we want to do, which is to create greater choice and options in the marketplace," she said.

Liberals were cool to the proposal, holding out for a fully government-run plan.

"I'm willing to talk to anybody about anything but they haven't sold it yet," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. "We have compromised enough on the public option."

Someone will have to give. But despite the apparent divide, lawmakers and White House officials sounded increasingly optimistic.

"It's going really well. They're having a lot of really productive meetings," Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, told reporters in the Capitol Saturday. "It's about where it should be at this point in the legislative process."

While negotiations continued behind the scenes, the Senate rejected a Lincoln-sponsored amendment to limit the tax deductions insurance companies take for what they pay their top executives. The vote was 56-42 on a measure that needed 60 votes.

Lawmakers also voted down a measure by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., to limit plaintiff lawyers' fees in medical malpractice cases, a politically fraught issue that pits Republicans against Democrats. The vote was 32-66.

The House passed its version of a health care bill last month. The competing versions would have to be reconciled before sent to Obama for his signature.

A busy schedule limited Mr. Obama's opportunities to speak directly to senators as they work to complete the legislation. The president will be in Oslo on Dec. 10 to accept the Nobel Peace Prize and then plans to attend climate change talks in Copenhagen shortly thereafter. Mr. Obama heads to Hawaii on Dec. 23 for Christmas.

Feinstein and Kyl spoke on CNN's "State of the Union."

[michaelm07]

Bar-Oby has been blowing through money the way he has been because he is banking (literally) on cap and trade, and Hellcare to replenish the coffers. It is all about taxes and revenue. Nevermind the trillions already spent on failed policies over the years, corruption and fraud. We should all just cooperate and give them more money. We should just trust them and all of us should obey, Obama.

[stryker54]

I am really sick of seeing so many people that feel they are entitled to govt. benefits. After serving this country for 7 years I came back to find not many places wanted to hire me because I was a vet. So I went to work on a straight commission job, that was in 1976. Now after all theses years 30+ where I had to produce something in order to get paid and becomeing very successful at it I now find my govt. which I served and NEVER received anything in return, wants to tax me for the lazy masses and take away what I worked so hard for to provide for my family. Now I never had a problem helping those that aren't able to help themselves, but most the people I see wanting benefits don't have any inclination to work for anything, they just want to take from those of us that have earned it, put people to work as a small business. Now we the people that have never asked but created jobs and wealth for people willing to work for themselves are going to be penalized for the lazy. I didn't vote for this idiot they call POTUS. and if I was still in the service I would have to resign because he is not there for the military either. This man will have everyone in the soup lines by the time he destroys this country. If any President needed impeached it is this one. Personally I think we should all march on D.C. and take out house back, the WH, and congress. Kick these goofy Ba$tards out on their A$$E$, but that is my opinion.

[velma179]

by stryker54 December 7, 2009 2:45 AM EST

"...but that is my opinion."

**********

Yep. That's all it is, your opinion. And since we are entitled to express our opinions freely in the USA, let me express mine:

It is our right and our responsibility to VOTE for the representatives we believe best represent our selves in our district, state and country. In the last two National elections, the majority of those who took this right and responsibility seriously... put our current Congress and President into office.

You can't "take back" something that was given lawfully and in accordance with our founding document [the Constitution]... you can only use your vote and your voice to seek out and elect candidates who represent you.

I believe you have been misled and do not have a grasp of the facts concerning this proposed health care legislation... so, I strongly disagree with your opinion, though I do thank you for your service to our country.

[retm-w]

reveal4 Is a paid blogger, paid by the number of posts.

[reveal4]

retm-w...you folks just make it up as you go along.

[stn_sage]

I've often wondered about that very thing! Some of his comments just 'sing' of an 'I'm a paid blogger' type situation!

Do you think 'he's an independent' or part of COINTELPRO?

[prohb]

Why isn't the media reporting about the OBSTRUCTIONIST MANIFESTO that Republicans are passing around in Congress to stop health care (or anything else) and make government unworkable. THEIR CONSTITUENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS!!! THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS!!! You don't believe me!! Check out http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/02/read-it-gop-senator-pens_n_377386.html for the actual document.

THE REPUBLICANS REALLY DO NOT WANT OUR COUNTRY TO WORK!!

This is scary.

[reveal4]

This blog is an all too clear microscopic lens into the psychological peculiarity of the right wing.

[stn_sage]

First, if Congress has to be reminded by the POTUS of how important this is to everyone in the country...regardless of your opinion on whether or not we should instigate such a national program...then those members needing the 'reminder', don't belong in Congress in the first place!

Second, Feinstein is correct! If the Dems don't produce a mostly positive Health Care Bill, they definitely have a problem...which, they'll experience at the polls in 2010!

Third, some of the Republicans who do NOT reside in GOP friendly districts and states, and who vote against it, and who are up for reelection in 2010, ARE going to have a REAL problem!

Fourth, if we can afford giveaways in foreign aid to other countries, if we can afford 2 1/2 billion a week on wars in the Middle East, then we d*amn well can afford to spend 900 billion to one trillion getting the health industry in order here in the U.S., especially since it constitutes one-sixth of our economy!

Finally, Congress should stay and work EVERY weekend through the Christmas holiday into the new year...IF that's what it takes!

It will balance out the many times they've worked shortened weeks and days to rush off to free luncheons and fundraisers et cetera!

[rightbehind]

If there is not a strong public option this bill needs to be tanked. If we take 4 more of the 18 republican senate seats on the ballot in 2010 and get rid of one republicrat we can go single payer in 2011.

[reveal4]

Reform will treat individual policy holders like members of Congress...in that folks who are included in the health insurance exchanges will be able to compare all policies, all coverages, and all costs for their policies for all available insurors in their state. The language will be easily understandable and all consumers will be included in large pools of insured, which will lower premium costs, just like Federal employees and large businesses now enjoy. Large insurance pools decrease the costs of individual policies. This will happen...if reform passes.

[reveal4]

Medicare seniors are afraid that reform will decrease their benefits. There is no provision in reform to decrease benefits for Medicare seniors. Best treatment methods will reduce costs of Medicare...for Medicare seniors and the American taxpayer. Medicare seniors will save money on medical care and prescription drugs...if reform passes. Also, the federal budget deficit will be reduced by over 100,000,000,000 dollars in the first ten years if reform passes...and the deficit will be reduced by 100's of billions of dollars in the second ten years...if reform passes.

[reveal4]

It seems as if the people who complain the most about socialised medicine are Republican Medicare seniors and VA patients.

[rightbehind]

All of them riding the taxpayers backs.