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Obama urges Senate health support Obama urges Senate health support
(about 3 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has appeared before Senate Democrats to persuade them to support his healthcare plans.US President Barack Obama has appeared before Senate Democrats to persuade them to support his healthcare plans.
In a rare weekend session, the Senate gathered to debate and vote in a bid to get the bill completed by the end of the month. In a rare weekend session, the Senate has gathered to debate and vote in a bid to get the bill completed by the end of the month.
Mr Obama urged his Democratic Party senators to "get the job done".
Democrats are divided over abortion and whether to allow the government to compete with private companies to sell insurance.Democrats are divided over abortion and whether to allow the government to compete with private companies to sell insurance.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asked Mr Obama to speak, his spokesman said. 'Affordable coverage'
Mr Obama was expected to talk to a 60-member Senate Democratic caucus meeting. Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus, a key author of the healthcare overhaul, said Mr Obama had told the senators that the public would reward Democrats for decades if the reform got through.
US HEALTHCARE Q&A: US healthcare reform US healthcare: Who wants what? Divided views
"You could tell it had an effect," Mr Baucus said.
Obama aide Bill Burton said the president had urged legislators to "continue forward on this historic opportunity to provide stability and security for those who have insurance, affordable coverage for those who don't".
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who had invited Mr Obama to the meeting, said that Republicans wanted this to be "President Obama's Waterloo" adding: "It's not going to be".
Vice-President Joe Biden also attended the closed-door meeting.Vice-President Joe Biden also attended the closed-door meeting.
Before the meeting, Illinois Senator Richard Durbin said: "The president is going to come in and urge us to bring this ball across the line, to finish this, as he should. This is an historic opportunity."
The $848bn (£515bn) 10-year legislation seeks to establish a government-backed "public option" for healthcare coverage to compete with private insurers, but allows states to opt out.The $848bn (£515bn) 10-year legislation seeks to establish a government-backed "public option" for healthcare coverage to compete with private insurers, but allows states to opt out.
US HEALTHCARE Q&A: US healthcare reform US healthcare: Who wants what? Divided views
Moderate and liberal lawmakers met on Saturday to try to find a compromise on the government insurance plan, or public option.Moderate and liberal lawmakers met on Saturday to try to find a compromise on the government insurance plan, or public option.
Despite obstacles ahead, the White House Office of Health Reform said the process was "going really well".Despite obstacles ahead, the White House Office of Health Reform said the process was "going really well".
The healthcare bill is a key domestic issue for President Obama.The healthcare bill is a key domestic issue for President Obama.
The legislation aims to extend coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans, but faces entrenched opposition from Republicans.The legislation aims to extend coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans, but faces entrenched opposition from Republicans.
The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill earlier this month.The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill earlier this month.
If the Senate can agree a plan, the two versions will have to be reconciled and passed again by each chamber before they are sent to the White House for approval.If the Senate can agree a plan, the two versions will have to be reconciled and passed again by each chamber before they are sent to the White House for approval.
The legislation could lead to the biggest changes in US healthcare in decades, if approved.The legislation could lead to the biggest changes in US healthcare in decades, if approved.