Health Care Reform Delayed: Congress Unlikely To Meet Obama's August Deadline

WASHINGTON — Top members of Congress say it's unlikely they will meet President Barack Obama's August deadline for a sweeping health care overhaul.

Lawmakers on Sunday said they will not rush on a health care overhaul that isn't even in final form yet.

The North Dakota senator in charge of the budget committee, Democrat Kent Conrad, says there's plenty of time for the overhaul while Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee says there's no rush.

Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says Obama would be pleased with the progress toward overhaul, while budget committee ranking Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire says it's "highly unlikely" that legislation would reach Obama's desk before recess because bills are still being drafted.

The lawmakers appeared on CNN's "State of the Union."

Comments

[DrHuffington]

THANK GOD! I hope congress is finally getting its priorities straight. IT'S THE ECONOMY ST.UPID!

[JohnUllmann]

Health care reform IS the economy - it will provide stimulus unseen since the fifties!

[LemonMeringue]

Our government can multi-task.

We need health care AND a better economy and one supports the other.

[FogBelter]

The economy is toast ... Ronald Reagan did a number on it with his buddy Milton Friedman that will take decades to correct. Let's get the Comprehensive Universal Single Payer Health Care system working now or as the economic situation continues to worsen we will have measles outbreaks and other diseases sweep the ranks of the uninsured which will keep the nation in a perpetually weakened condition. We need the Health Care safety net for all Americans as the economic crisis continues.

[mrsgm]

What about those of us with great health insurance? Shouldn't we be able to keep our plans the way they are since we paid for them and are not relying on the government to provide health care. I think health care reform should start with how we are billed. $12.00 for a tooth brush. $16.00 for tooth paste. $22.00 for a single maxi pad. $36.00 for a roll of toilet paper. Start with the small things and move upward. I think if we soften the blow the companies may be a little bit more cooperative. They may not feel as attacked and find it easier to comply.

[Antifascist-08]

Tr oll

[Pigeon2]

Antifascist-08 why the sarcastic post?