Baucus Responds To Claims Of Back Door Health Reform Negotiations

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) responds to a rumor that a few senators were drafting the health care bill in secret by saying that "the fact of the matter is that it's drafted by all senators." Baucus says that he has been speaking with senators about the health care bill and says that he has spoken especially with GOP'ers. (0:34)
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Sen. Collins: There Are Fundamental Problems With Finance Committee Bill

“I do think the goal of a health care reform bill is an important one and I’m going to continue to work with members from both sides of the isle,” says Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). However, the Senator says she cannot support the Finance Committee's bill because it has "fundamental problems." (0:26)
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Collins Says No To Finance Committee Bill

“I believe it needs a great deal of work, falls short of the goal of providing affordable health care, doesn’t do enough to rain in costs. It slashes Medicare in a way that I think would be very detrimental to Maine hospitals and I believe the results would cause premiums to rise,” says Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) (00:26)
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Pelosi Accuses Republicans Of A Double Standard

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) comments Thursday during her weekly press conference on the harsh rhetoric used by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) on the House floor earlier this week, which accused Republicans of holding a double standard. Grayson came under fire for remarking “If you get sick, America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly. That’s right. The Republicans want you to die quickly if you get sick." (0:17)

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House Republican: Obama-Care Greatest Threat Since Roe V. Wade

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said Friday morning that the White House is promoting a culture of death for unborn children.

“Right now we are in a serious crisis, the culture of death being promoted by Barack Obama… is outrageous and it’s unconstitutional,” said Smith.

“Obama-Care represents the greatest threat since Roe vs. Wade itself,” Smith added. (0:29)
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Michelle Obama: We Have To Channel Our Passions Into Change

First Lady Michelle Obama threw her hat into the health care reform debate Friday, calling the current state of health care “unacceptable” and describing the President’s reform proposal as “reasonable.”

“No longer can we sit by and watch the debate take on a life of it own,” the First Lady said during an event put on by the White House Council on Women and Girls in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. “We have to channel our passions into change.” (0:20)
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Congressman Pete Hoekstra Talks Illegal Immigration, Economy

Talk Radio News Service's Geoff Holtzman speaks with Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) during the "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" radio row in Washington, D.C. Hoekstra says that due to healthcare reform and energy legislation, Congress probably won't address immigration reform until 2010 at the earliest. On issues such as the economy and healthcare, the Congressman says that his constituents are urging him to oppose any legislation that would allow for the expansion of government. (6:09)
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Senate Finance Committee Chairman: Health Care Reform Talks Have Been Bipartisan

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) discusses the "Gang of Six" and its effort to employ bipartisanship in forming a health care reform strategy. (0:29)
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Senate Finance Committee Chairman: End of Health Care Talks Nearing

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) suggested Monday that the "Gang of Six" will reach the end of the health care discussion process in "coming weeks." (0:24)
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Cantor: Obama's Address Failed To Connect With Opponents In The General Public

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) says there is a “disconnect” between President Obama’s message and the fear that American’s have to change their heath care. (0:17)
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Kyl: Push The Restart Button On Healthcare

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Va.) says he’d like to see a “real” bipartisan discussion in Congress concerning health care reform. (0:13)
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Louisiana Republican Unimpressed By Obama's Health Care Address

Rep. John Fleming (R-La) said that Obama's address to Congress on health care was a "rehash of the same old message." Fleming also found the address condescending and gave the president an "F". (1:13)
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Cuomo: “ It is much harder to build a structure than it is to tear it down.”

Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo says that the healthcare argument is terribly misunderstood. There is an inability to explain to people what you want to get done. The positive side has not succeeded in making it clear. Cuomo talks about a system where Medicare is being stretch and eventually cover all Americans. (1:28)

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Sebelius: U.S. Can't Afford To Forgo Health Care Reform

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the U.S. can't afford not to have health reform and that the economy won't recover if the health care system is not reformed. She also notes that the U.S. should see better results for the amount of money the American people put into health care. (0:35)
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Women More Vulnerable To Higher Health Care Costs, Says Rep. Cummings

“Under the status quo, women are more vulnerable to higher health care costs than men, and when they lose their coverage the impact is felt heavily on their children and their families,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said. (0:44)
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Current Health Care System Unfair To Women, Says Rep. Maloney

"Secure, high quality, affordable health care is simply out of reach for too many women and their families," says Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), adding that 64 million women currently lack adequate health insurance. (0:22)


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Congress Should Not Be Required To Use Public Option, Says Sen. Whitehouse

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) says that members of Congress should not be required to use the proposed public option because it "casts a shadow" that the public option is mandatory. "[Republicans] are trying to maintain that the government is here to take away your choices, that this is going to be mandatory, that we're somehow moving to single-payer all of which is complete nonsense," says the Rockefeller. (0:34)
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Republicans Delay Health Care Reform With "Irresolution Resolution," Says Sen. Whitehouse

Republicans are implementing their “irresolution resolution,” says Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) during a press conference Wednesday. “Despite all the stories of real Americans: their heartache, their frustration, their anger, ultimately even their disgust with the health care system their trapped in, [Republicans continue to] delay the health care reform process and turn the most desperate domestic policy crisis in our country into political theater." (0:38)
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Senate Will Have Health Care Reform Bill By End Of Year, Says Sen. Rockefeller

“We’re still struggling in the Finance Committee, and that’s okay, because one thing that I’m very certain about is that we’re going to have a health care bill...and we’re going to have it by the end of this year,” says Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) during a press conference Wednesday. (0:19)
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Health Care Bill Won't Allow Illegals Access To Benefits, Says Van Hollen

Republicans and special interest groups are promoting a “false suggestion that the health care reform bill before the House allows illegal immigrants to get access to the health care benefits,” says Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). He identifies Section 246 in the bill as a provision which states “no Federal payment for undocumented aliens.” (0:35)
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