(ap) -
And here it is: A final vote on
health reform President
Barack Obama to you - 11 min ago
Last Thursday's first-of-its-kind summit capped off a debate that has lasted
nearly a year. Every idea has now been put on the table. Every argument has
been made. Both parties agree that the status quo is unacceptable and gets
more dire each day. Today, I want to state as clearly and forcefully as I
know how: Now is the time to make a decision about the future of health
care in America.
The final proposal I've put forward draws on the best ideas from all sides,
including several put forward by Republicans at last week's summit. It will
put Americans in charge of their own health care, ensuring that neither
government nor insurance company bureaucrats can ration, deny, or put out of
financial reach the care our families need and deserve.
I strongly believe that Congress now owes the American people a final
vote on health care reform. Reform has already passed the House with
bipartisan support and the Senate with a super-majority of sixty votes. Now
it deserves the same kind of up-or-down vote that has been routinely used
and has passed such landmark measures as welfare reform and both Bush tax
cuts.
Earlier today, I asked leaders in both houses of Congress to finish their
work and schedule a vote in the next few weeks. From now until then, I
will do everything in my power to make the case for reform. And now, I'm
asking you, the members of the Organizing for America community, to raise
your voice and do the same.
The final march for reform has begun, and your participation is crucial.
Please commit to join with me to take reform across the finish line.
Essentially, my proposal would change three things about the current health
care system:
First, it would protect all Americans from the worst practices of insurance
companies. Never again will the mother with breast cancer have her coverage
revoked, see her premiums arbitrarily raised, or be forced to live in fear
that a pre-existing condition will bar her from future coverage.
Second, my proposal would give individuals and small businesses the same
choice of private health insurance that members of Congress get for
themselves. And my proposal says that if you still can't afford the
insurance in this new marketplace, we will offer you tax credits based on
your income -- tax credits that add up to the largest middle class tax cut
for health care in history.
Finally, my proposal would bring down the cost of health care for everyone
-- families, businesses, and the federal government -- and bring down our
deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades. These savings
mean businesses small and large will finally be freed up to create jobs and
increase wages. With costs currently skyrocketing, reform is vital to
remaining economically strong in the years and decades to come.
In the few crucial weeks ahead, you can help make sure this proposal becomes
law. Please sign up to join the Organizing for America campaign in the
final march for reform:
Organizing for America | BarackObama.com | The Final March for Reform
When I talked about change on the campaign, this is what I was talking
about: coming together to solve a huge problem that has been troubling
America for 100 years and standing up to the special interests to deliver a
brighter, smarter future for generations to come.
I look forward to signing this historic reform into law. And when I do, it
will be because your organizing played an essential role in making change
possible.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
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And for those of you Claiming this is the DNC @ OFA and NOT Obama... That
came from HIS Site... From OFA... It IS his... The DNC IS his.
Soon, you will ALL be his.