Thursday
Sep102009
Minority Whips Express Disapproval Over President's Address
Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 2:50PM
By Meagan Wiseley, University Of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service.
In a press conference on Thursday, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and House Minority Whip. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) expressed overall disappointment with President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night.
“Bottom line...I thought the speech was partisan, uninformative, disingenuous and not likely to encourage those who have honest disagreements with him to be able to work towards some kind of common solution," said Kyl.
Said Cantor, “There [is] no question that the bar was set very high for this president and his speech last night. His performance did not match those expectations and in fact I don’t think that he did reach that bar.”
Both Kyl and Cantor argued that the nation's health care system can be reformed with small specific bills, as opposed to one comprehensive bill. “Start with what works, guarantee those aspects can be preserved, then we can work to fix the problems,” said Cantor.
In a press conference on Thursday, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and House Minority Whip. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) expressed overall disappointment with President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night.
“Bottom line...I thought the speech was partisan, uninformative, disingenuous and not likely to encourage those who have honest disagreements with him to be able to work towards some kind of common solution," said Kyl.
Said Cantor, “There [is] no question that the bar was set very high for this president and his speech last night. His performance did not match those expectations and in fact I don’t think that he did reach that bar.”
Both Kyl and Cantor argued that the nation's health care system can be reformed with small specific bills, as opposed to one comprehensive bill. “Start with what works, guarantee those aspects can be preserved, then we can work to fix the problems,” said Cantor.
Pelosi: Congress Will Pass Healthcare Reform Bill By End Of Year
"Last night, President Obama delivered what I believe to be one of the greatest speeches ever delivered in the congress of the United States," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday at her weekly press conference. Pelosi said she is confident that few obstacles stand in the way of healthcare reform passing.
Congressional members understand the importance of this piece of legislation and they are willing to work hard to achieve healthcare reform, Pelosi said. "We have to resolve the remaining pieces of it, that is very much within range," she said. "We will take the time it needs to do that, and when we are ready we will take our legislation to the floor."
Pelosi said it is likely Obama will pass a bill by the end of the year. "It will be legislation...that will work for the American people," she said. ""I'm confident the President will sign a bill this year."
As a steadfast advocate of a public option provision, Pelosi said last week that a healthcare reform bill would not pass without one. "A public option is the best option to lower costs, improve the quality of health care, ensure choice and expand coverage,” she said.
However, Pelosi said that the current plan is not perfect, and that she is open to suggestions on how to improve it. "I don't think you ever really go into a negotiation and say that some things are non-negotiable," she said. "So far we haven't seen a better plan, but it could be out there."