President Obama says he won’t push health care plan on Congress, ready to hear other proposals

September 20th, 2009 Obama embraces promise to move on immigrationWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says undocumented workers should not be included in the health care overhaul plan he's trying to push through Congress. He tells Univision's "Al Punto" show that if undocumented immigrants want to buy insurance, that's a matter to be settled with insurance companies.

September 13th, 2009 Obama works to stay in control of health debateWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is working to reclaim the initiative from critics of his health care initiative and boost momentum to push his chief domestic priority through Congress. Obama kept up a steady weekend drumbeat of cheerleading for his health care plan in a campaign-style rally, on the radio and Internet, and on network television.

September 6th, 2009 White House: Obama weighing own health care billWASHINGTON — White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says President Barack Obama is considering his own health care legislation to cut through the stalemate on Capitol Hill. Gibbs says Americans will know exactly where the president stands after his speech to Congress on Wednesday night.

September 2nd, 2009 Obama to deliver health care address to CongressWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will deliver a major prime-time address to Congress next week on his plans to overhaul the nation's health care system, opening an urgent autumn push to gain control of the debate that has been slipping from his grasp under withering Republican-led attacks. Scheduling of the speech next Wednesday night, just a day after lawmakers return from their August recess, underscores the determination of the White House to confront critics of Obama's overhaul and to buck up supporters who have been thrown on the defensive.

August 23rd, 2009 McCain: Obama must drop health care public optionWASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama will have to drop proposals for a government-run health insurance option if he hopes to reach congressional agreement on health-care reform.

August 10th, 2009 Obama: Canadian health system wouldn't fly in USGUADALAJARA, Mexico —President Barack Obama says Canada's government-run health care system works for Canada, but wouldn't work for the U.S. He warned Canadians that they will probably continue to get dragged into the debate over health care changes in the U.S.

August 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama turned 48 Tuesday and plans to spend part of his birthday meeting with the 58 Democrats in the Senate to push his health care plan. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama will discuss health care and the economy during the meeting.

July 23rd, 2009 Obama open to finance plans for health careWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he is open to the proposals emerging in Congress to pay for health care overhaul. At a prime-time news conference Wednesday, Obama said few lawmakers had embraced his proposal to limit itemized deductions for the wealthiest Americans.

July 23rd, 2009 Obama: Lots of agreement on health overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says lawmakers and he are in general agreement on important parts of a potential health care overhaul. Obama planned to say Wednesday night that the proposals would add stability to existing plans.

July 23rd, 2009 Obama says Medicare benefits won't be cutWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says cutting Medicare costs won't mean cuts in benefits to seniors. He says his goal instead is to change how those benefits are delivered, to make them more efficient.

July 15th, 2009 Obama stepping up push for health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has scheduled an appearance in the White House Rose Garden today to talk about his top domestic priority: health care reform. The president wants the House and Senate to pass legislation overhauling the nation's health care system before lawmakers leave town for their annual August recess.

July 15th, 2009 Obama praises progress on health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration will push through an overhaul of the nation's health care system and is urging Congress to finish the work before leaving for an August recess. Obama on Wednesday praised House and Senate versions of a bill to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans.

July 12th, 2009 Sebelius: All options on table for health planWASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the administration wants a health care overhaul this year but is still leaving the details to Congress. Sebelius said on Sunday that a health care overhaul "needs to be owned by the House and the Senate" and won't be dictated by President Barack Obama.

July 10th, 2009 Obama to Congress: Health care legislation by Aug.L'AQUILA, Italy — Despite snags in Congress, President Barack Obama says his administration is closer to achieving health care reform than at any time in recent history. He says he hopes Congress will pass health care legislation by the August recess but "nothing is do or die." Obama says he is making health care his "highest legislative priority".

July 1st, 2009 Obama takes health care pitch to VirginiaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is taking his pitch for health care revisions to Virginia, holding a town hall forum and fielding questions via the Internet. Congress will fully engage in the health care debate when it returns Monday from a one-week recess.