POTUS' Statement Aftering Meeting With Senate Dems Today

[Clio the Leo]

Again, take it for what you will...

(partial statement)

Speaking from the Roosevelt Room after meeting with the Senate Democratic Caucus, President Obama said the White House and Congress are on the verge of "an achievement that's eluded congresses and presidents for generations, an achievement that will touch the lives of every American."

"There are still some differences that have to be worked on. This was not a roll call. This was a broad-based discussion about how to move forward," Obama said, with senators including Max Baucus (Mont.), Patty Murray (Wash.), Chris Dodd (Conn.) and Dick Durbin (Ill.) beside him.

"There is broad consensus around reforms that will, number one, protect Americans against the worst practices" of health insurers, Obama said. "We agree on reforms that will finally reduce the costs of health care."

"In terms of deficits because we keep on hearing these ads about how this is gonna add to the deficit: the CBO has said that this is a deficit reduction, not a deficit increase. So all the scare tactics out there, all the ads out there are simply inaccurate."

"A lot of critics of this process fail to note" the consequences of inaction, he continued.

"Your premiums are guaranteed to go up. If this does not get done, more employers are going to drop coverage because they can’t afford it. If this does not get done, it is guaranteed that Medicare and Medicaid will blow a hole throughout budget. Those things are guaranteed. That's the status quo. That is the trajectory that we are currently on."

And in closing: "We welcome the scrutiny from the press. Recently there was an article in the New Yorker that talked about all the cost savings and how important they are going to be in terms of bending the cost curve over the long term. I am absolutely confident that if the American people know what’s in this bill, and if the Senate knows what’s in this bill, that this is going to pass. Because it’s right for America. And I’m feeling cautiously optimistic that we can get this done and start rolling up our sleeves and getting to work, improving the lives of the American people."

http://www.politico.com/politico44/wbarchive/whiteboard12152009.html

[rudy23]

1. Whew, it's from Politico, so it can't be true. For a second, I thought that's what he really said.

Good thing Politico's been debunked.

[dflprincess]

2. Our premiums are going to go up with his big idea as well

at least until the "reforms" finally kicked in.

If he was concerned about our access to health care he would have pushed for real reform, not another corporate bail out.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. Well, that's for those of you/us who HAVE premiums.

Those of us who don't have insurance don't have to worry about our premiums going up.

I guess that's a good thing?????

:sarcasm:


TG2012

[dflprincess]

4. Many of us won't have premiums either if they continue to go up

And even those of us who do still have copays and deductibles that make access to health care unaffordable even with insurance.