UPDATE 1-Axelrod says US Congress will pass healthcare bill

Sun Dec 20, 2009 9:26am EST

(Adds quotes, background)

WASHINGTON Dec 20 (Reuters) - White House senior advisor David Axelrod predicted on Sunday that Congress would approve a major healthcare overhaul, one day after Democratic senators secured the 60 votes needed for passage.

"I think it will pass the Congress," Axelrod said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "I think we're going to get it done."

Democratic holdout Senator Ben Nelson announced his support on Saturday for President Barack Obama's top domestic priority after a marathon negotiating session, which would make it possible for the Senate to approve the sweeping overhaul before Christmas.

The Senate-approved version must be reconciled with legislation pass by the House of Representatives before Obama can sign it into law.

Axelrod said the legislation did not give Obama everything he wanted, such as a government-run insurance option, but was still a major step forward.

"It is light years ahead of where we were," he said. "It's not perfect, and over time it may be improved."

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan, editing by Vicki Allen)

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Comments (3)
Disappointed wrote:
Mr. Axelrod,
We are in crisis mode and you expect us to wait until 2014.This is a joke, I pay $1020.00 for insurance now and I am losing everything. Then you expect us to support to the economy. It seems as if you have lost your mind after going to Washington. The president should have been more forceful when it came to “joe insurance lieberman. We are getting sick and dying now not tomorrow.

Dec 20, 2009 10:09am EST  --  Report as abuse
jake77 wrote:
I wish people who want this “reform” would only take the time to read it’s provisions. I say to them watch out for what you wish for! It is a reform bill in name only. All “reform” has been either eliminated, watered down, or loopholed. On the other hand, what you will get is health care rationing. Your coverage will be severely cut back and all health care decisions will be made by thegovernment and are final with no appeals possible. To top it off your premiums will actually go up substancially. I suggest you take the time to read articles such as “What the Pelosi health-care bill really says”(wall st. journal-nov.7). Google it. Or “what’s really in Obama’s health care reform bill-a plain english translation” at http://www.naturalnews.com/026733_health_health_care_healthcare.html
The insurance companies get a huge winfall in this legistlation and you are left totally vulnerable! Stay healthy!

Dec 20, 2009 3:11pm EST  --  Report as abuse
littlepunkin96 wrote:
All I can say is good-bye to the US of America. I can’t stand what’s happening, and we have nothing to say. Obama does what he wants, and our stupid Congressmen and women just simply follow their leader. It’s amazing.!!!! How can this be happening?? How do we stop it?? I’ve done all I know. How can they be so ignorant? I know , money in their pocket, that’s how. But I know it will eventually fail. Their is 10 % of people out of work now, and I’m sure there will be more in the future months. How do they intend to get money out of turnips?? I’m on SS. They aren’t even giving me money that’s mine. I’ve been paying SS since I was 15. Now I’m 70. Wish I had that money now. How do you go about sueing them for the money I’ve paid in since I was 15. They act like it’s their money, and it’s not. It’s mine. They are a disgusting, ignorant bunch of men and women.

Dec 20, 2009 10:21pm EST  --  Report as abuse
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