Obama hails epic health vote

PRESIDENT Barack Obama yesterday hailed this weekend's "historic" congressional vote on his health plan as the culmination of a century of struggle, at a euphoric campaign-style rally.

"Right now, we are at the point where we are going to do something historic this weekend," Obama said, two days before a key House of Representatives vote on his sweeping reform plan.

"The time for reform is right now." The House was expected to cast its verdict on a Senate bill on tomorrow and a "yes" vote would enshrine into law comprehensive health care reform, bringing coverage to 32 million Americans who currently lack insurance.

The Senate is then expected to vote on a House-passed package of fixes to the bill which would amend that law.

"In just a few days, a century-long struggle will culminate in an historic vote," Obama said, at a rally at George Mason University, the venue for one of his first-ever presidential campaign events way back in 2007.

"Do not quit, do not give up, we keep on going, we are going to get this done, we are going to make history, we are going to fix health care in America!" he declared, at the end of a rousing speech. Speaking in an arena, which can hold around 12,000 people, Obama billed the plan as the "toughest" insurance reforms in history and a way to cut the massive US budget deficit. He also hit out at the media storm around the health care issue, branding Washington reporters as "rock-em, sock-em robots," obsessed with political ups and downs and not the plight of Americans without health insurance.

"Will his presidency be crippled, or will he be the comeback kid? — that's what they like to talk about," he said, paraphrasing the media buzz.

The bill aims to extend coverage to 32 million Americans who now have none, bringing the world's richest country closer than ever to guaranteeing health insurance for all of its citizens, with 95 per cent of Americans covered.

It would enact the most sweeping overhaul of US health care in four decades, aims to end abusive insurance-company practices and curb soaring health care costs that already run double those of other rich countries.

The bill would create new insurance marketplaces starting in 2014 and require most Americans to carry insurance, while offering subsidies to many. Some of its most popular measures include bans on insurers denying coverage because of pre-existing illnesses, on insurers imposing lifetime caps on coverage and on insurers dropping people from coverage when they get sick.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president had spoken to more than three dozen lawmakers since last Monday on a hunt for the 216 votes that ensure passage.

Democratic Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, praised Obama's ability to win over support for his top domestic priority, telling reporters: "His personal presence helps."

The Democratic plan calls for the House to approve the Senate's version of the legislation as early as tomorrow, followed by both chambers approving a set of "fixes" to make the bill more to the House's liking.

"We feel very strong about where we are," said Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a major force behind the 10-year plan, but "every vote around here is a heavy lift."

Pelosi was working to rally liberal Democrats, who view the bill as too timid, and conservative Democrats who fear the price to pay in November mid-term elections for passing a measure many in their districts see as overambitious.

AFP