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Obama to defend healthcare plan Obama to defend healthcare plan
(19 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is preparing to go before the cameras to defend his plans for health reform.US President Barack Obama is preparing to go before the cameras to defend his plans for health reform.
At 2000EDT (0100BST) he will hold a news conference, to be broadcast live on three US TV networks, and will open the event with remarks on healthcare.At 2000EDT (0100BST) he will hold a news conference, to be broadcast live on three US TV networks, and will open the event with remarks on healthcare.
Congress is currently debating various reform proposals, and lawmakers are struggling to reach agreement.Congress is currently debating various reform proposals, and lawmakers are struggling to reach agreement.
Mr Obama has made passing a healthcare reform bill the top priority of his first year in the White House.Mr Obama has made passing a healthcare reform bill the top priority of his first year in the White House.
In the past 10 days, he has embarked on an aggressive push to promote his healthcare plans, as members of Congress argue over the details of reform.In the past 10 days, he has embarked on an aggressive push to promote his healthcare plans, as members of Congress argue over the details of reform.
Spiralling deficit In comments prepared for his opening remarks at Wednesday's press conference, the president said Americans were looking to Congress for leadership.
"This debate is not a game," he said.
"We will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice and provides coverage that every American can count on. And we will do it this year."
Timetable risk
Five congressional committees are currently working on bills, and although there is consensus on some aspects of reform, lawmakers are divided on whether to set up a public health insurance scheme for Americans without employer-sponsored coverage.Five congressional committees are currently working on bills, and although there is consensus on some aspects of reform, lawmakers are divided on whether to set up a public health insurance scheme for Americans without employer-sponsored coverage.
There is also much disagreement about how to raise revenue to fund the proposed expansion of healthcare coverage.There is also much disagreement about how to raise revenue to fund the proposed expansion of healthcare coverage.
HEALTHCARE IN THE US 47 million uninsured, 25 million under-insuredHealthcare costs represent 16% of GDP, almost twice OECD averageReform plans would require all Americans to get insuranceSome propose public insurance option to compete with private insurers Q&A: US healthcare reformHEALTHCARE IN THE US 47 million uninsured, 25 million under-insuredHealthcare costs represent 16% of GDP, almost twice OECD averageReform plans would require all Americans to get insuranceSome propose public insurance option to compete with private insurers Q&A: US healthcare reform
Some 47 million Americans do not currently have health insurance, and rising healthcare costs are a major contributing factor to America's spiralling budget deficit.Some 47 million Americans do not currently have health insurance, and rising healthcare costs are a major contributing factor to America's spiralling budget deficit.
Mr Obama has called both chambers of Congress to pass healthcare reform bills by the end of the first week in August, so that he will be in a position to sign a final, combined, bill in October.Mr Obama has called both chambers of Congress to pass healthcare reform bills by the end of the first week in August, so that he will be in a position to sign a final, combined, bill in October.
One Senate committee has passed a bill, and three House of Representatives committees have published a joint proposal.One Senate committee has passed a bill, and three House of Representatives committees have published a joint proposal.
Both of these bills would require all Americans to take out health insurance, and would provided subsidies to help make coverage affordable.Both of these bills would require all Americans to take out health insurance, and would provided subsidies to help make coverage affordable.
They would also give Americans without employer-provided coverage the option to join a public insurance scheme.They would also give Americans without employer-provided coverage the option to join a public insurance scheme.
But the powerful Senate Finance Committee has yet to complete its version of the bill, amid calls from prominent moderate senators for a delay while a bipartisan compromise is reached.But the powerful Senate Finance Committee has yet to complete its version of the bill, amid calls from prominent moderate senators for a delay while a bipartisan compromise is reached.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, said on Wednesday that her party had the votes needed to pass the reform there.
"It will take some time," she said. "But we are going to do it right."
But House Republican Leader John Boehner called on Mr Obama to scrap the bill and start again "in a bipartisan way".
"If they try to fix our healthcare system like they've tried to rescue our economy, I think we're in really, really big trouble," he said.
If Mr Obama's timetable begins to slip, correspondents say the president's push for healthcare reform could be in jeopardy.If Mr Obama's timetable begins to slip, correspondents say the president's push for healthcare reform could be in jeopardy.
As well as questions on healthcare reform, Mr Obama is likely to be asked about his efforts to bolster the US economy, and his track record on foreign policy during the first six months of his presidency.As well as questions on healthcare reform, Mr Obama is likely to be asked about his efforts to bolster the US economy, and his track record on foreign policy during the first six months of his presidency.