U.S. President Barack Obama calls for final vote on health care
By Kent Klein
U.S. President Barack Obama says it is time for Congress to take a final vote on health-care reform, after months of contentious debate. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to fight for a fresh start.
In his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday, Mr. Obama said Americans are suffering from destructive insurance company practices, and Congress needs to "act now."
In the Republican response, Congressman Parker Griffith argued fiercely against passing the reform plan currently under discussion.
Griffith, a former doctor, said Congress must vote against what he called a "government takeover of health care."
He said the reform bill would give the federal government power to make medical decisions for individuals, instead of leaving it up to them and their doctors.
Health-care reform has been one of Mr. Obama's top priorities since he took office.
In his address Saturday, Mr. Obama outlined some of the changes he hopes will pass in the reform bill, such as allowing those with pre-existing conditions to purchase insurance and providing a stipend to senior citizens whose drug costs are high but not high enough to qualify for government assistance.
Democrats suffered a major political defeat earlier this year when Massachusetts voters elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate seat held for decades by Democrat Edward Kennedy.
That election ended the Democrats' 60-seat super-majority, which had allowed them to contain any Republican efforts to delay or block legislation.
VOA News
-
Related News
- Fresh air for conservatives in U.S. - Rick Santorum wins huge in MN, MO, CO
- Moldova and the United States assess their 20 years of diplomatic relations
- Moldovan officials participate at the Munich security conference
- Moldova and the USA have strong educational partnerships
- Bitter statement of the US Ambassador to Romania
- Hillary Clinton will travel to Europe for official meetings
- Moldova's civil society asks the international community for help in solving the Transnistria conflict
- Germany and the USA want a better conflict management in Moldova
- Hungarians rally against their new consitution
- Stratfor: Russia's plan to disrupt U.S.-European relations
- 10 most important world events of 2005
- The rise and fall of Saddam Hussein
- Iraq: Saddam Hussein and another ex-senior officials sentenced to death by hanging
- Analysis: Black Sea Rivalry
- Report: Saddam Hussein has been executed
- On 31 August Moldova celebrates the Language Day
- Sexual humiliation and torture of female protesters reported
- Saddam Hussein handed over to Iraqi authorities, say lawyers
- Saddam Hussein's execution could be within next 48-36 hours
- Deadly blast at checkpoint near Peshawar