Obama to Senate: Hurry Up

[babylonsister]

Obama Presses Senate to Act Quickly on Its Health Bill

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
Published: November 8, 2009


WASHINGTON — The White House, growing concerned that the Congressional timetable for passing a health care overhaul could slip into next year, is stepping up pressure on the Senate for quick action, with President Obama appearing Sunday in the Rose Garden to call on senators to “take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line.”

Mr. Obama’s remarks came just 14 hours after the House narrowly approved a landmark plan that would cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years and extend insurance coverage to 36 million uninsured Americans; the president called it “a courageous vote.” But the votes had barely been counted when the White House began turning its attention to an even bigger hurdle: getting legislation passed in the Senate.

In the Senate, where proposals differ substantially from the House-passed measure on issues like a government-run plan and how to pay for coverage, the bill is stalled while budget analysts assess its overall costs. The slim margin in the House — the bill passed with just two votes to spare, and 39 Democrats opposed it — suggests even greater challenges in the Senate, where the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, is struggling to hold on to all 58 Democrats and two independents in his caucus.

Mr. Obama has staked his domestic agenda on passing comprehensive health legislation, a goal that has eluded presidents for decades. While Democrats were forced to make major concessions on insurance coverage for abortions to win House passage of the bill, they were nonetheless ebullient on Sunday, with many saying the vote gave them momentum to push the bill forward.

“For years we’ve been told that this couldn’t be done,” Mr. Obama said in the Rose Garden. Of the American people, he said, “Moments like this are why they sent us here.”

But for all the exultation, there was a sense inside the White House and on Capitol Hill that the hardest work is yet to come. The House debate highlighted the pressures that will come to bear on senators as they weigh contentious issues like federal financing for abortion, coverage for illegal immigrants and the “public option,” a government-backed insurance plan to compete with the private sector.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/health/policy/09healthcare.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

[Life Long Dem]

1. Sounds like someone turned it into a rush order.

[babylonsister]

2. A good point was made; we don't need to see an extended

Congressional recess for the rethugs to send their marching orders out to the crazies; August was proof enough there.

Get 'er done!

[Ineeda]

3. After all the bitching

that President Obama didn't put enough pressure on the House, we'll hear bitching that he's putting too much pressure on the Senate. Not involved enough, too involved; too quick, too slow; too progressive, too conservative, yada yada, and so it goes. The mountain grows higher, but he (and we) must still climb. 'The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.'

[vaberella]

4. Your post deserves it's own thread. Great post. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

5. Harry has threatened to make them work Saturdays...

... notice that's "plural"

[Jennicut]

6. They need to get off their butts and do the hard work.

[HopeOverFear]

7. Obama's making them work for their self-appointed salaries, finally

and they hate him for it.

[Cha]

8. Best of Luck herding the cats in the Senate, President Obama.

[AllentownJake]

9. Senate's response