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Obama faces US Congress on health Obama faces US Congress on health
(30 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is making one of the most critical speeches of his presidency, as he faces Congress over his plans for healthcare reform.US President Barack Obama is making one of the most critical speeches of his presidency, as he faces Congress over his plans for healthcare reform.
Mr Obama has said he will use the prime-time speech to clarify what changes he is proposing. Mr Obama said after 100 years of effort to reform healthcare, he wanted to be the last president to deal with it.
According to the White House, Mr Obama will say after 100 years of effort to reform healthcare, he wants to be the last president to deal with the issue. He said that failure to introduce reform had led the country to breaking point.
He will say that if reforms are not produced, more Americans will die.
See how healthcare spending is divided up
Members of Congress are preparing to fight over details of the reforms, as they return after the summer recess.Members of Congress are preparing to fight over details of the reforms, as they return after the summer recess.
In an interview with ABC News broadcast earlier in the day, Mr Obama said the point of his speech would be to ensure that people understood exactly what was being proposed. name="top"> class="bodl" href="#map">See how healthcare spending is divided up
He said he also wanted to remain open to new ideas. Talking about the millions in the country who have no insurance, Mr Obama said:
President Obama, speaking on Labor day, accused opponents of not coming up with any answers Mark Mardell BBC North America editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/">Read more from Mark Mardell "Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy.
He told ABC he wanted to "make sure that Democrats and Republicans understand that I'm open to new ideas, that we're not being rigid and ideological about this thing but we do intend to get something done this year". "These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans."
Mr Obama said that when he initially raised the proposals he had "probably left too much ambiguity". President Obama, speaking on Labor day, accused opponents of not coming up with any answers Mark Mardell BBC North America editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/">Mark Mardell's live blog on the speech
Now, he said, he now wanted to "dispel some of the myths and, frankly, silliness that's been floating out there for quite some time". But Mr Obama said the current system did not serve those Americans who do have health insurance well either.
'False notions' "Those who do have insurance have never had less security and stability than they do today.
Analysts say the speech is perhaps the most critical juncture of Mr Obama's presidency so far. "More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you'll lose your health insurance too."
HEALTHCARE IN THE US 46 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 Anger clouds US healthcare debate Are healthcare protests genuine?
Healthcare reform has been the central issue of his change agenda but has divided both the US public and the country's political establishment.Healthcare reform has been the central issue of his change agenda but has divided both the US public and the country's political establishment.
One problem is that the issue is so complex many Americans say they do not fully understand the proposals.One problem is that the issue is so complex many Americans say they do not fully understand the proposals.
Mr Obama said he wanted to address the "ridiculous idea" that the bill includes proposals for so-called death panels - doctors determining who should receive treatment. HEALTHCARE IN THE US 46 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 class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8160058.stm">Q&A: US healthcare reform class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8202275.stm">Anger clouds US healthcare debate class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8194485.stm">Are healthcare protests genuine?
He would also tackle "false notions" that the moved was aimed at providing health insurance to illegal immigrants and the broader notion that the government was taking over health care.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Washington, says the president will need all his oratory skill to rescue his hopes for reform.The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Washington, says the president will need all his oratory skill to rescue his hopes for reform.
He is facing almost unanimous opposition from Republicans, who are uneasy about the idea of government-run healthcare and who have accused Mr Obama of attempting to introduce a "socialist" policy.He is facing almost unanimous opposition from Republicans, who are uneasy about the idea of government-run healthcare and who have accused Mr Obama of attempting to introduce a "socialist" policy.
There are, in theory, enough Democrats in Congress to approve the changes.There are, in theory, enough Democrats in Congress to approve the changes.
But in practice, the party is deeply divided between those that want a publicly-run insurance scheme and those alarmed by the borrowing necessary to fund it, our correspondent says.But in practice, the party is deeply divided between those that want a publicly-run insurance scheme and those alarmed by the borrowing necessary to fund it, our correspondent says.
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