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Obama to host live health summit Obama hosting live health summit
(40 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama will face top Republicans later as he hosts a live TV summit on healthcare, in a fresh bid to save his troubled reform plans. US President Barack Obama is facing top Republicans in a live TV summit on healthcare, as part of a fresh bid to save his troubled reform plans.
About 40 congressional Democrats and Republicans are expected to join the debate in Washington DC. About 40 congressional Democrats and Republicans are taking part in the debate in Washington DC.
For the first time, Mr Obama offered his own version of a healthcare plan on Monday; it was rejected by Republicans.For the first time, Mr Obama offered his own version of a healthcare plan on Monday; it was rejected by Republicans.
Analysts say the six-hour summit offers more potential for political theatre than solving the legislative stalemate.Analysts say the six-hour summit offers more potential for political theatre than solving the legislative stalemate.
Even the shape of the table for Thursday's meeting at Blair House, opposite the White House, was subject to dispute. Even the shape of the table for the debate at Blair House, opposite the White House, has been subject to dispute.
President Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden and other leading Democrats will face senior Republicans such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Arizona Senator John McCain. President Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden and other leading Democrats are facing senior Republicans such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Arizona Senator John McCain.
MARDELL'S AMERICA The parties are so far apart this summit is merely a game of chicken Mark MardellBBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in fullMARDELL'S AMERICA The parties are so far apart this summit is merely a game of chicken Mark MardellBBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full
The BBC's Mark Mardell, in Washington, says Mr Obama has asked for ideas from both parties, but the Republicans smell a trap and are not in a co-operative mood.The BBC's Mark Mardell, in Washington, says Mr Obama has asked for ideas from both parties, but the Republicans smell a trap and are not in a co-operative mood.
There is almost no chance of the 17 or so Republicans agreeing to anything that is on the table, our correspondent says.There is almost no chance of the 17 or so Republicans agreeing to anything that is on the table, our correspondent says.
The House of Representatives and the Senate passed separate healthcare bills at the end of last year.The House of Representatives and the Senate passed separate healthcare bills at the end of last year.
But efforts to merge them and sign a bill into law collapsed last month when Republicans won a special election in Massachusetts.But efforts to merge them and sign a bill into law collapsed last month when Republicans won a special election in Massachusetts.
The victory deprived Democrats of their crucial filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority.The victory deprived Democrats of their crucial filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority.
The White House has signalled it may end up driving through a bill using a procedure called budget reconciliation, which only needs a majority vote.The White House has signalled it may end up driving through a bill using a procedure called budget reconciliation, which only needs a majority vote.
Republicans said they would use Thursday's talks to highlight the cost of the Democrats' reforms, while outlining their own more scaled-back approach.Republicans said they would use Thursday's talks to highlight the cost of the Democrats' reforms, while outlining their own more scaled-back approach.
Democrats are expected to seek to portray the Republicans' plans as inadequate.Democrats are expected to seek to portray the Republicans' plans as inadequate.
'Photo op''Photo op'
The meeting - which begins at 1000 (1500 GMT) - will debate controlling costs, insurance reforms, deficit reduction and expanding coverage. The meeting - which began at 1000 (1500 GMT) - is debating controlling costs, insurance reforms, deficit reduction and expanding coverage.
A USA Today/Gallup poll showed that barely one fifth of respondents thought the TV summit would yield a deal. A USA Today/Gallup poll showed that barely one fifth of respondents thought the televised summit would yield a deal.
On the eve of the talks, one House Republican, Michael Burgess of Texas, derided it as a "six-hour photo op" for President Obama.On the eve of the talks, one House Republican, Michael Burgess of Texas, derided it as a "six-hour photo op" for President Obama.
House deputy Republican leader Eric Cantor said: "Democrats are farther away from securing the votes to pass a government healthcare bill today than they have ever been."House deputy Republican leader Eric Cantor said: "Democrats are farther away from securing the votes to pass a government healthcare bill today than they have ever been."
Despite the tussling, the parties proved they could find common ground on healthcare.Despite the tussling, the parties proved they could find common ground on healthcare.
On Wednesday, the House voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill scrapping the exemption from federal anti-trust law that health insurance companies have long enjoyed.On Wednesday, the House voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill scrapping the exemption from federal anti-trust law that health insurance companies have long enjoyed.
The president has invested much political capital in his plans to make nearly all Americans take out health insurance and to stop abuses by insurance firms.The president has invested much political capital in his plans to make nearly all Americans take out health insurance and to stop abuses by insurance firms.
But the issue has become a rallying standard for conservatives, who say Mr Obama is bent on introducing European-style big government.But the issue has become a rallying standard for conservatives, who say Mr Obama is bent on introducing European-style big government.
It has also worried a recession-mauled American public, which is not clear about how much reforms would cost them.It has also worried a recession-mauled American public, which is not clear about how much reforms would cost them.
The US is the world's richest nation and the only industrialised democracy that does not provide healthcare coverage to all its citizens.The US is the world's richest nation and the only industrialised democracy that does not provide healthcare coverage to all its citizens.