“I would advise that we try to move quickly to coalesce around those elements of the package that people agree on,” Mr. Obama said.
He cited two specific goals for a scaled back bill: restricting insurance industry practices and imposing healthcare cost controls. He did not mention requiring near-universal insurance coverage, a hallmark of the reform legislation.
However, he voiced misgivings about scaling back the bill, noting that such an approach might make coverage unaffordable, and said that is one reason he prefers a broad overhaul.
The President left open the possibility that the House could simply pass the Senate version of the reform bill: “I think it is very important for the House to make its determinations,” he said, adding, “The House and the Senate bill overlap about 90 percent.”
Mr. Obama acknowledged the Republican Senate candidate’s victory in Massachusetts. “The same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office,” he said. “People are angry, and they’re frustrated.”
Read ABC News’ transcript on health reform.
