Governors And Obama Work On Health Care

More at http://www.theuptake.org
President Obama meets with Governors Jennifer Granholm (D-MI), Jim Douglas (R-VT), Jim Doyle (D-WI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Christine Gregoire (D-WA), all of whom helped co-host forums in their regions.

Transcript:
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I just wanted to thank the governors that are represented here today -- Governor Rounds, Gregoire, Douglas, Granholm, and Doyle. They are representative of the bipartisan group of governors that hosted roundtables around the country on health care after some initial meetings that I had with the National Governors Association, in which every single governor -- Republican or Democrat; small state, big state -- emphasized how important it was to reform our health care system to control costs, to assure choice of doctors and plans for individuals, and to make sure that we are providing high-quality care.

And all of them represent states that have done some terrific work, wonderful experiments, have seen successes. But all of these governors also expressed to me, and I think heard from their constituencies, deep concerns about what the future holds. I think there's a recognition that when you have premiums doubling three times faster than wages, when you have businesses seeing 25 or 30 percent increases in terms of their health care costs for their employees, when you look at Medicaid budgets and what that's forcing governors to do in terms of making choices about trying to still fund higher education and the other things that are going to make states competitive, there's a recognition that we have to change the status quo.

And so they've reported back to me. There's no perfect unanimity across the table in terms of every single aspect of reform. I think everybody here wants to make sure that governors have flexibility, that they have input into how legislation is being shaped on the Hill. But they have done my administration and I think the American people a terrific service in bringing some of these individual stories to us. And we're ...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• obama
• healthcare
• deficit
• budget
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• debt
• JenniferGranholm
• jimdouglas
• jimdoyle
• mikerounds

[brandonrourk]

If this new program is better, then all of congress and the government should be in it. But they are not, so how good can it be. Is clear since they are not switching is not better. what ever the congress and senate pass thats the same coverage they get period nothing more nothing less. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.

[kramper59]

Then we should visit Socialist Canada, France and England.. you stupid Republican dont even know the definition of Socialist... and I heard un educated porject whores talk and make better sense than Sarah Palin. who they chose for vice president.

[marceads]

When are the American people going to wake up and discover that we are being taken over by a bunch of Socialists from the top down? I actually gave this guy a chance at the beginning, but after socializing the car industry, the banking industry, and now this...I believe that he is the biggest threat to freedom this country has ever encountered. I am a small business owner that was planning a course to allow expansion. I have since decided to decrease the size of my business to only support me

[IAmWinstonSmith]

Healthcare reform is one thing - government takeover is something completely different.

Remember when we had to "act now" to pass the $787,000,000,000 spendulous bill that didn't work? Now we have to rush frantically to pass the $1,000,000,000,000+ government healthcare takeover?

Doesn't it worry ANYBODY that nobody supporting this (including Obama) has bothered to even read the 1,000+ page bill?

"Taxing the rich" also includes YOUR EMPLOYER. Ever been employed by a poor person?

Me neither.

[Gatoreffer]

Arrogant lying bastard!

[Gatoreffer]

ASSHOLES!