Healthcare reform is closer to becoming a reality, according to President Obama's weekly address
18 05 09 - 12:19
Obama hails movement on healthcare
By Sam Youngman - The Hill
Healthcare reform and clean-energy legislation are closer to becoming a reality after this week, President Obama said Saturday.
In his weekly radio address, Obama hailed congressional leaders who visited the White House this week and praised them for taking steps that he sees as a "foundation for the future" on landmark legislation that both he and they say will see his desk this year.
The president praised the Democratic leadership for making committee moves and what are so far just promises on two of his biggest agenda items.
"Two pillars of this new foundation are clean energy and healthcare," Obama said. "And while there remains a great deal of difficult work ahead, I am heartened by what we have seen these past few days: a willingness of those with different points of view and disparate interests to come together around common goals – to embrace a shared sense of responsibility and make historic progress."
The president boasted that he has involved "stakeholders" from all sectors on both issues as he seeks reform.
"For the first time, utility companies and corporate leaders are joining, not opposing, environmental advocates and labor leaders to create a new system of clean-energy initiatives that will help unleash a new era of growth and prosperity," he said.
Obama added that as he unveiled his plan to tackle the unwieldy beast that is healthcare reform, he invited representatives from the "insurance and drug companies, doctors and hospitals, and labor unions who are pledging to do their part to reduce healthcare costs.
"That’s the kind of urgency and determination we need to achieve comprehensive reform by the end of this year."