Congressional leaders joined President Barack Obama today at the White House to launch an all-day televised bipartisan discussion on the deadlocked healthcare reform legislation.
In opening remarks, Obama urged both parties to lay politics aside and focus first on aspects of agreement when it comes to healthcare reform. "Here's the bottom line," he said. "We all know this is urgent."
"I'd like to make sure this is a discussion and not us just trading talking points," Obama continued. "I hope this isn't political theatre where we are just playing to the camera. The American people are looking for solutions."
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) made opening remarks for the GOP, urging that lawmakers start over on healthcare reform.
"We would like you to succeed because if you succeed, our country succeeds," Alexander told the president. "But we'd like to change the direction."
According to Alexander, Republicans feel healthcare reform should be tackled in small steps, focusing first on containing healthcare costs.
Alexander also asked the president to ensure that Democrats would not use reconciliation to override Republicans votes and "ram a bill through."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Americans cannot afford to wait for Congress to start over on healthcare reform. "Americans can't hold on much longer," she said.
Within the first hour of the summit, Republicans and Democrats argued over "the facts." Republicans said the Congressional Budget Office estimates of the Democrat bills would raise premiums, while Democrats believe otherwise.
Obama promised Republicans that the facts over CBO premium estimates would be settled before the end of the day.
Last week Obama released his own plan for healthcare reform, which he claims combine the best of both House and Senate bills passed last year, while building on them. Obama said he is open to all ideas that lower costs and increase coverage for more Americans.