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Obama ‘open to new ideas,’ committed to moving forward with health-care reform – MedCity Morning Read, Sept. 9, 2009

President Barack Obama told ABC News that the speech he is scheduled to deliver tonight will offer "a lot of clarity" about his vision for health-care reform. While noting that "we do intend to get something done this year," Obama said that his administration is "open to new ideas." The president is expected to address a joint session of Congress at 8 p.m.

By Sarah Latson on September 09, 2009 7:32 am
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The speech that President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver tonight will offer “a lot of clarity” about his vision for health-care reform, he said in an interview with ABC News.

While noting that “we do intend to get something done this year,” Obama told “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts that his administration is “open to new ideas.”

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On Tuesday, Obama outlined his plan to “reset the debate over health care” during a meeting with top Democratic Congressional leaders, The New York Times reported.

The meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took place as speechwriters and advisers worked on finalizing Obama’s speech, the Times said. The president is expected to address a joint session of Congress for about 30 minutes, beginning at 8 p.m.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, Reid said, “We’ve re-renergized. We’re ready to do health-care reform,” the Times reported.

Also on Tuesday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus solicited feedback on what the Times called “compromise legislation.” The plan requires all Americans to carry health insurance and establishes penalties for not having coverage, the Times said.

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Baucus, a Montana Democrat, asked five of his colleagues – two Democrats and three Republicans – to respond to his proposal by this morning, the Times reported.

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