McConnell Criticizes Meeting Between Obama and Congressional Budget Office Director

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) criticized a meeting between President Obama and the director of the Congressional Budget Office, an organization that provides non-partisan analysis of Congressional proposals. He said that the meeting could compromise the CBO's independence. (0:37)
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Pelosi Implies She Would Postpone August Recess To Pass Health Care Reform

During a press conference Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was asked if she would consider postponing the upcoming August recess if consensus on health care reform was not achieved. Pelosi responded “I believe that 70% of the American people think [the postponement] would be a good idea…I want to see a bill.” (0:11)
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Clyburn Says Health Care Reform Won't Be Too Expensive

White House Correspondent Victoria Jones interviews House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) about the state of health care reform. Rep. Clyburn says passing health care reform this year will cost money, but he warns that the cost of not reforming the health care system will be far greater in the long run. The South Carolina Democrat also says that he doesn't believe Republicans want the health care system changed. (9:25)
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Universal Health Care May Miss Target, Says Expert

Cato Institute Senior Fellow Michael Tanner argues that health care reform must involve targeted actions or it will not help the people who need it the most. Tanner says it is better to focus on people who cannot afford health insurance, rather than create a program that tries to insure everyone. (0:30)
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"Slow Down The Health Care Train," Urges Expert

Cato Institute Senior Fellow Michael Tanner calls on Congress to not rush health care reform in order to produce reform that will work. Tanner argues that gathering more information and removing some of the emotion that is involved within the debate will lead to better analysis and more effective solutions. (0:30)
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Steele Accuses Obama And Democrats Of "Malpractice"

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele cites a report by the Congressional Budget Office, which says that the health care reform bill will not insure all Americans or reduce the cost of health care. He says that the government's health care will be inferior to current coverage. (0:39)
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Steele Warns Against Rushing Through Health Care Reform

Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, says that health care legislation should not be passed before the August recess, as it will rashly affect too much of the U.S. economy without time for consideration. (0:31)
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Steele Says Private Health Care Sector Can't Compete With Gov't

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says that it is unfair for the government to try to compete with the private sector, and argues that the Democrats' health care reform proposal could limit private health insurance coverage. (0:44)
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President Obama Says Health Care Reform Is In Sight

President Obama held a press conference Friday to give an update on the progress of health care reform. He said that more groups are signing on to tackle the issue including pharmaceutical companies, AARP, American Nurses Association and the American Medical Association. In addition, Obama said he is committed to not having health care add to the national deficit. The President was definite in saying that health care reform will be achieved by the end of this year. (9:06)
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Health Care Bill Is About The Children, Says NY Democrat

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) says the future of our country depends on whether or not we get health care reform soon. Rep. McCarthy says government subsidized health care worked great for her when she was a child, thus it will probably work well for today's youth. (:26)
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The Fiscal Burden Facing Future Americans Can Be Blamed 2008 Election, Says McCain

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) says that due to the outcome of the past election there is going to be a fiscal burden for the future generation of Americans. McCain pointed to the current state of health care reform as an example.

"Elections have consequences, this is a glaring example of that," said McCain.

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Dems Ignoring GOPers' Ideas On Health Care, Says Boehner

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R- Ohio) accuses Democratic leaders of excluding Republicans from the health care reform debate, even though help has been offered. Boehner says that the American public knows that both parties will have to work together in order to achieve a working health care plan. (0:24)
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Rep. Pitts: Abortion Should Be Excluded From Health Care Reform Legislation

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) notes that the proposed health care reform legislation will include minimum benefit standards, which will detail the basic coverage every American will be entitled to. Pitts goes on to point out that without a statutory exclusion, these benefits may include publicly funded abortions. (0:29)
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House Majority Leader Discusses Blue Dog Democrats And Health Care Reform

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said during a press conference that the moderate Blue Dog Democrats agree that health care is necessary, and that "extensive and spirited discussions" are a common feature of the legislative process. (0:36)
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Boehner Warns That Health Care Reform Will Lead To Further Job Loss

During a press conference Thursday, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) warned that the proposed reforms to the U.S. health care system may lead to further job loss.

"When you raise the cost of employment...you get less employees. There’s no question that their proposal raises the costs of employers to have employees, because it requires all employers to have health care,” Boehner explained (0:15)


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Cantor: Obama Ignoring Popular Will On Health Care

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) accuses President Barack Obama of not paying enough attention to polls that indicate Americans are not ready to change the health care plans they already have. Cantor explains, contrary to the Democrats' rhetoric, Americans who are satisfied with their health care plans will not be able to keep it under a government plan. (0:35)
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Senator Criticizes Democrats' Approach To Health Care Reform

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) criticizes the approach Democrats have taken to health care reform. Cornyn said that what the Democrats are doing downplays bipartisan reform and ignores the Republicans. He says this approach will ultimately create new problems in the health care system. (0:36)

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We'll Have Health Care Reform By End Of August, Says Biden

Vice President Joe Biden says our nation desperately needs health care reform, and predicts we'll get it by the end of August. (:08)
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Howard Dean Responds To AMA's Critique Of Obama's Health Care Plan

In response to a question on the American Medical Association's (AMA) critique of President Obama's health care plan, former Vermont Governor Dr. Howard Dean said that the AMA was misrepresented by The New York Times and did not take a position against the public option . He asserted that there was a willingness to work with people with questions but that it is imperative that the American people are able to choose whether they want to remain with the current health care system or try something new. (0:26)
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Health Care Policy Expert Says Change Is Inherently Scary To Many Americans

Karen Pollitz, Research Professor at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, said today that what makes most Americans nervous about health care reform has nothing to do with the actually policy itself, but with the change that will come as a result of a new policy. (0:38)
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