Pelosi: House Taking Up Health Care Before Recess

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Pelosi: House taking up health care before recess

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writer – 9 mins ago

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that her chamber would have a sweeping health care bill on the floor by the end of July, an announcement that President Barack Obama hailed.

"That's the kind of urgency and determination that we need to achieve what I believe will be historic legislation," the president said at the White House, standing on the south driveway with Pelosi and Democratic leaders of the relevant House committees. "Our health care system is broken," Obama said. "We are not going to rest until we've delivered the kind of health care reform that's going to bring down costs for families, improve quality, affordability, accessibility for all Americans."

Pelosi, D-Calif., and other House Democrats had met with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office just before going outside to make their announcement. No Republicans were present, and neither were any senators. "We promised him that we will have this important legislation on the floor of the House before the August break," Pelosi announced. "Our goal is to have a healthier America."

Neither the speaker nor the president offered details of how the legislation will look, the subject of ongoing debate on Capitol Hill. The White House is remaining mostly quiet as proposals emerge for discussion among lawmakers, preferring to let Congress come up with a plan and engage more on the specifics later on. Obama's plan to provide coverage to some 50 million uninsured Americans is the cornerstone of his promise to enact a larger overhaul of the health care system. Independent experts put the costs at about $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090513/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_overhaul

[DJ13]

1. Not good

When Congress stalls on bringing a bill to the floor until its too late for proper debate, its usually a sign they know the bill wont be what the public wants.

[Iowa]

4. Yep, a rush job.

We are about to be sold out - again.

[OhioChick]

6. Yep. n/t

[Old Coot]

2. Why isn't Obama suggesting his own plan?

He is apparently just leaving it up to congress to cobble something together. He isn't really acting like much of a leader.

[SpartanDem]

7. Do you want a repeat of 1993 ?

one the main reasons why it went down in flames is Clinton foisted a bill with little consultation upon Congress only to have it picked apart.

[bemildred]

3. So the Congressional leadership wants to stall. nt

[Joanne98]

5. That's not what we wanted to hear!