Gibbs Says White House Wants Pre-Recess Action on Health Bills

[kpete]

Source: Roll Call


Gibbs Says White House Wants Pre-Recess Action on Health Bills
By Keith Koffler
Roll Call Staff
July 20, 2009, 3:06 p.m.


White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs reiterated that President Barack Obama wants initial bills passed in the House and the Senate by the August recess, but without the type of insistence White House officials have used in earlier statements.

“The president believes we’re making good progress, and the president believes we can get this done by August,” Gibbs said after repeatedly being prodded to restate the August deadline. “We’re working with the Finance Committee to see what progress can be made.”

Gibbs’ posture appears to reflect that of Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, who on Sunday described the August recess as a “goal” for passing legislation.

The legislation is still stuck in the Senate Finance Committee, which had originally hoped to produce a bipartisan bill by the July Fourth recess.

Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/36987-1.html?ET=rollcall:e5138:80080753a:&st=email

[KansDem]

1. Do it now! Hold their feet to the fire!

Then they can use their government-provided health care to have them examined...

[WriteDown]

2. I guess those healthcare companies must really want their

money.

[SpartanDem]

3. Obama needs to send someone over to slap Baucus around

they'd have a bill by now if wasn't so busy trying to blow Grassley

[pinto]

4. Wonder if he means initial bills, literally, so as to have the recess to plan / support

a reconciliation approach once Congress resumes. Just thinking out loud here. :shrug: