Obama Pushing Hard on Health Care

President Obama called on Congress Wednesday to "buck up" and pass a health care reform package, decrying the "naysayers" and the "cynics" for defending what he described as a broken system.

Despite resistance from virtually all Republicans to the latest health care proposals pitched by Democrats, Obama said he was "confident" that Congress could pass out a bill in the coming weeks and declared, "We are going to get this done." He said the American people are on board and are awaiting Washington to take the next step.

The president is trying to build momentum for a comprehensive reform package and short-circuit attempts to delay the bill -- discontent over the package seemed to build as Obama was out of the country last week.

But taking a stern tone, Obama accused his health care critics of "defending the status quo." He said he wants the House and Senate to pass out bills before the August recess, so that they can settle on one unified bill that he can sign shortly after lawmakers return from break.

"This is a problem that we can no longer defer," Obama said, flanked by nurses. "Deferring reform is nothing more than defending the status quo -- and those who would oppose our efforts should take a hard look at just what it is that they're defending."

He described the current system as one in which costs are skyrocketing as thousands lose coverage, saying the status quo is "not an option" for Americans anymore.

Obama issued the fresh call for action in the Rose Garden, just a few hours after a Senate panel became the first to act on the president's push for legislation. He used that progress, which he hailed as a "major milestone," to try to pressure other lawmakers to move the ball forward.

"The naysayers and the cynics still doubt that we can do this. But it wasn't too long ago that those same naysayers doubted that we'd be able to make real progress on health care reform. And thanks to the work of key committees in Congress, we are now closer to the goal of health reform than we have ever been," Obama said.

In a party-line vote that reflected deep concerns over costs, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 13-10 Wednesday, with all Republicans on the committee opposing, to pass a $600-billion version. It would expand coverage by requiring individuals to get insurance and employers to contribute to the cost. - FOX News Story