Obama Highlights Agreements on Health Reform
Some lawmakers would "would rather score political points" than reform the health care system, Mr. Obama said. Yet there are many others working hard for reform, he added.
"There is a tendency in Washington to accentuate the differences (rather than) common ground," he said, "but make no mistake -- we are closer than ever."
The president highlighted the common elements of reform that have been agreed upon in both the House and Senate, including barring insurance companies from denying coverage to a person because of a pre-existing condition, establishing a government-sponsored health insurance plan -- or "public option," ensuring that citizens can stay insured if they switch jobs or lose their job, as well as allowing citizens to compare the prices of various plans and choose the one they want.
Both bills, he said, also attempt to eliminate "unwarranted giveaways" in Medicare and create a better incentive structure for health care providers.
"We have traveled long and hard to reach this point," Mr. Obama said, "and we have farther to go."
Health care reform has been long in the making, he said, because of politicians "playing the politics of the moment instead of putting the interests of the American people first."
"We can choose to follow that play book again, and we'll never get over the goal line," Mr. Obama said. "Or we can come together and insist this time it will be different."