Democrats Pushed Legislation Through House Energy and Commerce Committee, Clearing Way for September Showdown
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Healthcare: 'Right reform,' GOP insists
by Mark Silva and updated at 2:50 pm EDT
It's August, and the start of a long congressional recess.
Democcratic leaders have pushed a healthcare reform bill through a key House committee before the break and Senate leaders of both parties are still looking for a consensus on a plan of their ownthough neither plan will reach any floor votes until at least September.
President Barack Obama is calling on Congress to adopt a plan before the end of the year and may well be able to pass it without any Republican support -- though the Senate minority leader's office, noting divided Democratic committee votes, suggests the president is having trouble convincing members of his own party. Republicans who oppose Obama's plans are asking everyone to slow down and do it "right."
"Serious healthcare reform is a top priority of the American people, and we need to get it done,'' Sen John Thune of South Dakota says in the Republican Party's weekly address today. "But we need the right reform.''
The Democratic plan for "government-run healthcare'' would destroy medical care, Thune maintainsthough the Democrats maintain that a public option for those who cannot find private insurance will not deny anyone of the care they already have.
The Democratic plan will worsen "the exploding deficit,'' Thune saysthough the president maintains the plan can be enacted without deepening the deficit.
Obama, who left with his family for Camp David today for an overnight stay in the cooler mountains of Maryland on this humid opening of August in Washington, praised the House Energy and Commerce Committee on its passage of a bill Friday.
"I'm pleased that the third and final House committee working on health reform legislation has successfully passed a bill that would provide quality, affordable health insurance for all Americans,'' the president said. "This historic step by the House Energy and Commerce Committee moves us closer to health insurance reform than we have ever been before. The bill that they have passed will strengthen consumer protections and choice, while lowering costs and improving care, underscoring the broad consensus among all of the bills that have emerged in Congress.
"As in other committees, this bill was strengthened by a debate that allowed all voices to be heard, including those of Progressives, Blue Dog Democrats, and members of both the Democratic and Republican Caucuses. I particularly want to thank Chairman Waxman and Chairman Emeritus Dingell for their leadership. Over the next few weeks, we must build upon the historic consensus that has been forged, and do the hard work necessary to seize this unprecedented opportunity for the future of our economy and the health of our families."
See Thune's address above.
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