Obama says health overhaul necessary

Jun 2 2009

President Barack Obama said this afternoon that the window for overhauling the nation's health systems will close when Congress breaks for its summer vacation.

The Associated Press: "Obama met with lawmakers Tuesday at the White House. He told reporters at the start of the meeting that it makes no sense to add people to a broken system, so he wants to see costs controlled." He also said he would like Congress to take broad action before the August recess, and that this "is a make-or-break moment for his priority" (6/2).

The Wall Street Journal: "'We can't afford to put this off," Mr. Obama said at the start of a meeting with 24 Senate Democrats ...  Mr. Obama, who made brief remarks but didn't take questions, acknowledged it would be a "heavy lift" to cinch a bill that expands medical coverage and controls the rise of health-care costs. ... Republicans said the administration hasn't divulged enough details of its health-care plans, and they said their nonparticipation in Tuesday's White House meeting shows a lack of bipartisanship" (Pulizzi, 6/2).

Reuters: The next two months will be critical to White House and congressional efforts to pass comprehensive healthcare reform legislation by the end of the year, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday (6/2).