Obama Delayed Asia Trip To Build Trust On Health Care: Gibbs

Declaring that the administration sensed "some momentum" on health care reform, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs explained on Friday that President Obama decided to delay a trip to Asia in part to help build trust between the two chambers of Congress on the legislation.

"[House Democrats] are concerned," Gibbs said on Friday. "I think that's why the President is spending time also dealing with senators to ensure that they are supportive of those legislative fixes on their side of it, too."

Gibbs would not formally acknowledge that parliamentary rules would require that the House of Representatives pass the Senate bill in full, without a firm commitment that it would be fixed via reconciliation. But the potential hurdle loomed over the briefing.

Earlier in the day, House Democratic leadership all but declared that they would have to pass the Senate's health care bill and have it signed into law by the president before they could pass a reconciliation package to fix that bill.

"[W]e will pass the Senate bill," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.). "Once we pass it, the president signs it or doesn't, it's -- people would rather he waited until the Senate acted, but the Senate Parliamentarian, as you have said, said in order for them to do a reconciliation based on the Senate bill, it must be signed by the president."

Such a procedural path forward will require a significant leap of faith from Pelosi's cohorts in the House. Already, there is disappointment among many members about the reach and language of the Senate bill. To have to pass that bill without a clear commitment that it would be amended at a later date could be a major stumbling block to getting a bill passed.

"Two hundred and ninety times this Congress, the Senate has failed to act on bills passed by the House," Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said in a statement on Friday "Fool us once, shame on you, fool me two hundred and ninety times, shame on us."

All of which has set up a scenario in which the president will essentially play the role of Congressional mediator (as much as policy crafter) in the days ahead; and why he felt compelled to delay his departure to Indonesia from March 18 to March 21.

"I don't want to wade into the parliamentary politics on Capital Hill," Gibbs said, "except to say this: the president is talking not just with members of the House on the vote that they are going to have to make, but also with members of the Senate to ensure that the corrections the president sees as so important... are also acted on. And so... it's a dual track. It works together."

Comments

[MsLiz]

02:55 AM on 03/15/2010

Oh the tro-lls are earning their dimes tonight.

[chulanow]

02:43 AM on 03/15/2010

If the President wants to delay his trip, then let him..............,don't we have more important things to worry about?

[USAFVET76]

02:19 AM on 03/15/2010

Delayed his trip because:

* The 18th conflicted with day 1 of the NCAA basketball tournament.
* SEIU leaders and Valerie Jarrett (puppet master) told him to stick around 3 more days.
* He learned Indonesia is the largest population of Muslims and needed more time to prepare his words of praise to Allah.
* He originally planned to visit troops in the Mideast but found out they weren't that eager to meet him. He was bummed because he loves the applause wherever he goes. Pouting and delayed trip.

[MsLiz]

02:43 AM on 03/15/2010

You have to imagine reasons to oppose the president, I see.

[mrskorn]

01:00 AM on 03/15/2010

He is staying to twist arms.

[MsLiz]

02:44 AM on 03/15/2010

Let's hear the snapping of bones and ripping of tendons, it's worth it.

[sarabono]

05:17 PM on 03/14/2010

Ah, the wonderful world of Gator-Aid, Cadillac Tax Give Away to Unions and Wall Street Executives, Insurance Purchase Mandate, IRS Insurance Purchase Enforcement, Employer Fines, Employee Fines, Vermont Syrup Payments, Special Hospital's Deal for Conn., the Wonderful Louisiana Purchase, and of course, the wonderful Nebraska Corn Husker Payout! And these are just the ones we know about.

Let's see, total these up and your talking $100's of Billions of Dollars borrowed from China and others. The Gator-Aid exemption, all by itself, is at least $5 Billion and probably much more. (The Gator-Aid Provision Exempts Floridian's from Medicare Advantage restrictions that will affect all Seniors Not Living in Florida.)

[MsLiz]

02:49 AM on 03/15/2010

Any objection the Republicans have to a provision which benefits a particular state could be eliminated by a Republican voting aye in lieu of the Democrat demanding concessions.

[buckbanter44]

03:43 PM on 03/14/2010

Only 4,000 miles from Indonesia to Afghanistan. Michele won't let him take the girls there. O is going to pull a Bush and make a surprise visit to the troops. (I heard he was sending Hillary first to see if there are snipers at the airport)

[sarabono]

05:00 PM on 03/14/2010

Ah, Another Hillary video coming.. (For sure, this time, they will have planted snipers firing blanks and Movie Director Cameron will have a few smokey explosions going off..)

[Johnniedog]

01:18 PM on 03/14/2010

Sam!..... Buddy!.....Where is the story?

[DavePalen]

10:29 PM on 03/13/2010

He is delaying his vacation to hand out more cash in a desperate attempt to Rahm Obamacare through. If only he devoted his energy to unemployment. His only policy for that is to bash business.

[MsLiz]

02:51 AM on 03/15/2010

How are you related to half governor Palin?

[middleoftheroad]

06:27 PM on 03/13/2010

It's awsome. We will all be mandated to by private insurance... Wait until the IRS gets hold of people when they don't have coverage! You will be opening yourself up to an audit!

[dianhow]

08:45 PM on 03/13/2010

mid road we can all gripe all day long but what should we do ?
Keep the toxic corrupt system.we have ? where folks are dropped - denied- refused - premiums and deductibles go up 20- 30 % yearly - -pricing families out of health care
OR forcing them into going bankrupt - some die without care . OR they just go to
the emergency room so WE ALL PAY 25 X more than an MD office visit
get real This Can only work if we spread the risk - Young folks get sick- have accidents
break legs etc- THEN WE ALL MUST PAY THATS NOT FAIR

[GetTheFreakOuttaHere]

05:23 AM on 03/14/2010

Spot on!!

[MAH999]

01:55 PM on 03/14/2010

I wouldn't mind paying if I could pay into a public system. I do mind supporting the thieves in the for-profit system. I would be happy to pay to purchase Medicare in the system that Grayson is putting forth. I don't see where the current bill will do much to reign in the corrupt system we have. There are some minor fixes but health care should not be part of a for-profit corporate system. I'm neutral on whether this bill should pass. It will hurt me more than it will help me. Maybe it's better than nothing and will help a lot of people but I don't delude myself that it is going to really fix the problem. I've been without medical insurance most of my life and have managed by learning about more affordable alternative treatments. I think I'm healthier for it. That said, I would happily pay into a system that got corporations out of the equation.

[VoteThemAllOut]

06:07 PM on 03/13/2010

I guess he stayed to home to make sure all of the special buy-off like the $100 Million Chris Dodd memorial hospital is removed from the bill - Ya Think?

[Beau2]

06:12 PM on 03/13/2010

Dodd and Bernie, have both said they will not remove their payoffs. It could get real interesting to see if Harry can hold 50 votes if the "porkers" decide to play hardball.

[Marne Carmean]

04:58 PM on 03/13/2010

Families could send to Congress death certificates of that family member / members dying of a preventable death / illness because of lack of insurance / inability to pay.

[truthbuster]

04:50 PM on 03/13/2010

ONOma had a pick-up basketball game scheduled with neocons, AIPAC, and health insurance lobbyists. Could not leave town until the press got photos of his jump shots.

[Hugo Troncoso]

05:02 PM on 03/13/2010

Hugo Troncoso we have our President working very hard on the healthcare reform that is going to benefit everybody in this country poor or rich. At some point in our life we will be sick, with any long term illness think who is going to help you in that situation your money or your family or the insurance companies or the people ...look for rules for being human. ----- www.barackobama2010.info

[OneConservative]

03:45 PM on 03/13/2010

It's obvious why. President Pelosi told him to. She said "I know you lead like a 6 year old school girl but Barry, get over there and pretend to lead. Then you can blow several million dollars of taxpayer money on your Indonesia vacation visiting your homeland."

[GiannaX]

12:44 AM on 03/14/2010

You are a major ignoramus. Go *play* Nazi with Glenn Beck.

[LSP]

02:40 PM on 03/14/2010

huh-huh......good one Beavis

[John Mainstream]

03:34 PM on 03/13/2010

H.R. 4789 is a 4-page bill that lets any American buy into Medicare at cost. This would add nothing to the deficit. Drop the Senate bill, and enact HR 4789 instead!

[stevebol]

04:57 PM on 03/13/2010

Wait about 1 1/2- 2 years for the next pres. election campaign. It's not so long.

[pointyheadprodigy]

08:52 PM on 03/13/2010

Yeh, the uninsured that die in the interim won't mind. Neither will their families.

[dianhow]

08:47 PM on 03/13/2010

John at some point- we may have to do this state by state stay tuned folks

[pjean]

02:53 PM on 03/13/2010

you people itch and moan about what the President could have done, didn't do and on and on and on. If it's so easy then why weren't you out there fighting those darn idiots calling this socialized health care. Why didn't you get your friends to boycott FOX for spreading lies. Why didn't you make the necessary phone calls. I am tire of people ithching about stupid things. Obviously healthcare refrm has to pass once it does fight like hell to get a publick option included. Maybe the rethugliKKKans who voted NO on everything will decide in Nov. that they should fight for a public option oh wait, the rethugliKKKans don't give a darn about the American People they only care about BIG Business. Last time I checked, Civil rights act was watered down to pass so give me a freaking break about all of this blame on Obama. Blame yourself for NOT taking action and sitting on your freaking computer itching about whose fault it is. Take a look in the mirror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Father3]

11:51 AM on 03/14/2010

Thank you, as a middel class hard working American, as most people are. Thank you for stating the obvious.