WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The fight over health care reform took center stage on Capitol Hill on Friday, as the House Democratic leadership stepped up its push for passage of a bill before the August congressional recess.
An influential group of Senate moderates, however, broke with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama by releasing a letter urging a slower timetable.
Obama, who has put health care reform at the top of his domestic agenda, pushed Congress to get the job done.
"Now is not the time to slow down, and now is certainly not the time to lose heart," the president said from the White House.
The letter, addressed to the Democratic and Republican Senate leaders, was signed by Susan Collins, R-Maine; Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana; Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut; Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska;
Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/17/health.care/index.html