Obama urges Congress to 'finish its work' on reform bill

President Obama urged Congress on Wednesday to "finish its work" on health-care reform legislation and indicated support for a Democratic legislative strategy that includes a controversial procedure known as reconciliation.

In a speech at the White House, Obama told an audience of medical professionals that Congress "owes the American people a final vote on health-care reform." He did not mention the reconciliation procedure by name but said the legislation now stalled in Congress "deserves the same kind of up-or-down vote that was cast on welfare reform, the Children's Health Insurance Program, COBRA health coverage for the unemployed and both Bush tax cuts -- all of which had to pass Congress with nothing more than a simple majority."

The programs he mentioned were passed under reconciliation rules, which would enable the Senate to approve a health-care overhaul with a simple majority, rather than a filibuster-proof 60 votes. Republicans have vowed to fight the maneuver.

Forging ahead despite the GOP objections, Obama defended health-care reform as crucial to American families and businesses. He said it would lower skyrocketing costs and end abuses by insurance companies, including discrimination against people with preexisting conditions.

He emphatically rejected Republican demands to abandon existing proposals and "start over" with an incremental approach.

SOURCE: Washington Post