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 The Temperature Of Health Care Reform - Martha's Vineyard Press Briefing by Bill Burton 8/27/09 — Wednesday, September 02, 2009 —  Q Obviously lawmakers are not actively engaged in the debate over health care because they're out -- MR. BURTON: Can you speak just a little louder -- I can barely hear you. Q I said lawmakers have not been actively involved in the debate over health care reform since they're away from Washington. But has the President been able to test the temperature of health care reform? And if so, how does he view it? MR. BURTON: Well, I can say that this week Secretary Sebelius and Nancy-Ann DeParle have been very busy working with both members of Congress, their staff, and different groups who have a stake in this. So the President's view is that we're continuing to make progress on health care reform. The American people are still foursquare behind making some progress on health care reform. He still believes that we'll be able to get a bipartisan bill through the House and the Senate. And that's the end that we're working towards. So I would say that the temperature right now is that the American people want and need health care reform, and the President is committed to getting that by the end of the year. Q What is his reaction when he hears news reports that health care reform has been derailed, or major roadblocks for health care reform? MR. BURTON: Well, health care reform is obviously a very difficult thing. Over the course of the last 60 years, a lot of different Presidents have tried to bring about comprehensive health care reform, and the reason that they haven't been able to get it done is that it's not just a series of easy and politically popular decisions. But we've been able to make more progress than has been made before by getting the doctors and the nurses and the hospitals on board; the AARP is supporting health care reform. It's been passed through four of the five committees that need to pass it out. Because costs have gotten to a point where if we don't do something not only is health care going to be in crisis, but the deficit will -- we just will not be on a fiscally sustainable path as it relates to the deficit. So the President's view is we've made a lot of progress already; we continue to make progress; we're going to be able to -- he's working towards getting a bipartisan result and he'll continue to work towards that end until we get health care reform for the American people. Bill Burton | Congress | Health Care | President Obama | Press Briefing | White House Press Corps Labels: Bill Burton, Congress, Health Care, President Obama, Press Briefing, White House Press Corps >> Full Story
Posted by White House Press Corps @ 4:16:00 PM
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