October 10, 2009: President Obama Praises Emerging Consensus on Health Insurance Reform

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address Washington, DC October 10, 2009

The historic movement to bring real, meaningful health insurance reform to the American people gathered momentum this week as we approach the final days of this debate. Having worked on this issue for the better part of a year, the Senate Finance Committee is finishing deliberations on their version of a health insurance reform bill that will soon be merged with other reform bills produced by other Congressional committees.

After evaluating the Finance Committee’s bill, the Congressional Budget Office – an office that provides independent, nonpartisan analysis – concluded that the legislation would make coverage affordable for millions of Americans who don’t have it today. It will bring greater security to Americans who have coverage, with new insurance protections. And, by attacking waste and fraud within the system, it will slow the growth in health care costs, without adding a dime to our deficits.

This is another milestone on what has been a long, hard road toward health insurance reform. In recent months, we’ve heard every side of every argument from both sides of the aisle. And rightly so – health insurance reform is a complex and critical issue that deserves a vigorous national debate, and we’ve had one. The approach that is emerging includes the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats, and people across the political spectrum.

In fact, what’s remarkable is not that we’ve had a spirited debate about health insurance reform, but the unprecedented consensus that has come together behind it. This consensus encompasses everyone from doctors and nurses to hospitals and drug manufacturers.

And earlier this week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg came out in support of reform, joining two former Republican Senate Majority Leaders: Bob Dole and Dr. Bill Frist, himself a cardiac surgeon. Dr. Louis Sullivan, Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George H.W. Bush, supports reform. As does Republican Tommy Thompson, a former Wisconsin governor and Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush. These distinguished leaders understand that health insurance reform isn’t a Democratic issue or a Republican issue, but an American issue that demands a solution.

Still, there are some in Washington today who seem determined to play the same old partisan politics, working to score political points, even if it means burdening this country with an unsustainable status quo. A status quo of rising health care costs that are crushing our families, our businesses, and our government. A status quo of diminishing coverage that is denying millions of hardworking Americans the insurance they need. A status quo that gives big insurance companies the power to make arbitrary decisions about your health care. That is a status quo I reject. And that is a status quo the American people reject.

The distinguished former Congressional leaders who urged us to act on health insurance reform spoke of the historic moment at hand and reminded us that this moment will not soon come again. They called on members of both parties seize this opportunity to finally confront a problem that has plagued us for far too long.

That is what we are called to do at this moment. That is the spirit of national purpose that we must summon right now. Now is the time to rise above the politics of the moment. Now is the time to come together as Americans. Now is the time to meet our responsibilities to ourselves and to our children, and secure a better, healthier future for generations to come. That future is within our grasp. So, let’s go finish the job.

AMMO LIST

DEMOCRATS WAR ON SENIORS AND BUSINESS

How ObamaCare Guts Medicare
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703649004575437311393854940.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion

Health law’s heavy impact by Paul Guppy (Taxes)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/28/health-laws-heavy-impact/

Monthly premiums to rise for 7 of top 10 Medicare prescription plans in 2011
http://www.startribune.com/business/103642009.html?elr=KArks:DCiU1OiP:DiiUiacyKUnciatkEP7DhUr

Social Security: No 2011 increase expected (COLA)
http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/05/news/economy/Social_Security_cost_of_living_adjustment/index.htm

No Social Security COLA Expected For 2011 News Expected To Be Bad For Democrats
http://www.kptv.com/politics/25344443/detail.html

They forgot to add this to the “Rest of the Story”

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/jan/22/chain-email/chain-e-mail-says-congress-raised-own-salaries-whi/

Shall we wait to see how the media and the establishment Pubbies handle this one?

Harvard Pilgrim cancels Medicare Advantage plan
http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2010/09/28/harvard_pilgrim_

Seniors’ coverage options dwindle as Medicare Advantage programs close shop
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-advantage_22bus.ART.State.Edition1.3c912a9.html

Survey in New England Journal of Medicine 46% of US Doctors Will Quit Obamacare Passes http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2798380/shocking_survey_in_new_england_journal.html?cat=75

ObamaCare has just made me Sicker!
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bamcare_has_just_made_me_icker_c1dBRZ6M3yuH27rAVnLsvN

In the notice, EmblemHealth told Gowland, who is healthy, “The proposed rate increase includes two components: a basic increase on your type plan and an increase due to the cost of enhanced benefits required by the new federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”

Mayo clinic stops taking Medicare patients
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=517004

Principal To Cut Jobs, End Med Insurance Business
http://www.kcci.com/money/25224059/detail.html

Obama: We knew health costs would go up
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/118079-obama-we-knew-health-costs-would-go-up

President Barack Obama insisted he can overhaul the U.S. healthcare system without raising taxes for anyone but the wealthiest Americans

The New Federal Wedding Tax: How Obamacare Would Dramatically Penalize Marriage
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/01/The-New-Federal-Wedding-Tax-How-Obamacare-Would-Dramatically-Penalize-Marriage

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1099: The Trojan Horse within Obamacare
http://palmettoinsider.com/2010/09/21/1099-the-trojan-horse-within-obamacare/

Repeal Obamacare: Small-Business Killer
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38496

Senate Expands IRS Form 1099 Reporting Requirement to Include All Rental Property Owner
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/75911

Paperwork nightmare: New 1099 mandate must be repealed
http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/guest/article_61e61666-bbc1-11df-b2c3-001cc4c002e0.html

Health care law’s massive, hidden tax change( 1099’s)
http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/smallbusiness/1099_health_care_tax_change/index.htm

Lost in Taxation, The IRS’s vast new ObamaCare powers.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704518904575365223062942574.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

ObamaCare’s Unseen Costs
http://reason.com/archives/2010/10/15/obamacares-unseen-costs/print

Bad Medicine: A Guide to the Real Costs and Consequences of the New Health Care Law
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11961

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