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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Obama urges action on healthcare | Obama urges action on healthcare |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has called on Congress to "finish its work" on reforming the US healthcare system, and pass sweeping reforms. | US President Barack Obama has called on Congress to "finish its work" on reforming the US healthcare system, and pass sweeping reforms. |
| Mr Obama said Congress should hold a vote on his proposals by simple majority in the next few weeks. | Mr Obama said Congress should hold a vote on his proposals by simple majority in the next few weeks. |
| Healthcare has been a priority for Mr Obama but the legislation has been blocked by the Republican minority. | Healthcare has been a priority for Mr Obama but the legislation has been blocked by the Republican minority. |
| Last week, a televised summit hosted by Mr Obama in Washington failed to break the deadlock between parties. | Last week, a televised summit hosted by Mr Obama in Washington failed to break the deadlock between parties. |
| The president wants Congress to back the latest version of his $950bn (£621bn) plan to cover uninsured Americans and lower premiums. | The president wants Congress to back the latest version of his $950bn (£621bn) plan to cover uninsured Americans and lower premiums. |
| MARDELL'S AMERICA Republicans will reject this almost instantly. One conservative website has already put together a montage of clips showing Obama saying he wouldn't govern like this class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2010/03/obamas_challenge.html">Read Mark's thoughts in full | |
| He said the proposed reforms had incorporated the best ideas from the Democrats and the Republicans. | He said the proposed reforms had incorporated the best ideas from the Democrats and the Republicans. |
| "I ask Congress to finish its work, and I look forward to signing this reform into law," Mr Obama said. | "I ask Congress to finish its work, and I look forward to signing this reform into law," Mr Obama said. |
| "At stake right now is not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem," he added. | "At stake right now is not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem," he added. |
| Republicans say the country cannot afford the president's plan. | Republicans say the country cannot afford the president's plan. |
| Both the House and the Senate voted on their own version of the package last year, but the legislation is currently stalled as the Senate Democrats no longer have the 60-seat majority required to defeat blocking tactics by Republicans. | Both the House and the Senate voted on their own version of the package last year, but the legislation is currently stalled as the Senate Democrats no longer have the 60-seat majority required to defeat blocking tactics by Republicans. |