Senators say it’s unlikely they’ll meet Obama’s August deadline for health overhaul

October 4th, 2009 Obama aide hopes Gitmo closing deadline can be metWASHINGTON — The White House's national security adviser says the Obama administration is hard at work on fulfilling President Barack Obama's deadline to shut down the Guantanamo detention center for suspected terrorists. But James Jones also says that meeting Obama's deadline to close the facility by Jan.

September 30th, 2009 Senators reject photo ID for health care benefitsWASHINGTON — Senators working on a health overhaul have rejected a Republican move to require photo identification for federal health benefits. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said his amendment would have helped cut fraud in health care programs for low-income people.

September 24th, 2009 Senators rebuff attempt to squeeze drugmakersWASHINGTON — Senators writing a sweeping health care overhaul have rebuffed an attempt to squeeze more money from the drug industry for medicines used by low-income seniors. By a 13-10 party line vote, the Democratic-dominated Senate Finance Committee defeated an amendment requiring rebates of $106 billion over 10 years from the industry.

September 2nd, 2009 Correction: Health Care OverhaulWASHINGTON — In an Oct. 1 story about health care overhaul, The Associated Press reported erroneously that President Barack Obama repeatedly pledged last year that his health care plan would not raise taxes on any individual making more than $200,000 or a family with incomes over $250,000.

August 16th, 2009 Obama confident health care overhaul coming soonWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he's confident his drive to overhaul health care will succeed. The president writes in Sunday's New York Times about "health insurance reform" and says his attempt to overhaul the system is closer to reality "than we have ever been." Obama cites support from the American Nurses Association, the powerful American Medical Association and the AARP for big changes.

August 3rd, 2009 Obama to meet with Democratic senatorsWASHINGTON — Senate Democrats will meet with President Obama at the White House on Tuesday. Spokesman Robert Gibbs says the meeting is to discuss what has been accomplished during the first six months of the Obama administration, and the president's priorities going forward.

August 1st, 2009 AP Sources: Deadline for bipartisan health effortWASHINGTON — Democratic officials say a Sept. 15 deadline has been imposed on efforts to produce a bipartisan agreement on health care legislation in the Senate.

July 29th, 2009 Senate negotiators pare cost of health overhaulWASHINGTON — Senators trying to reach a bipartisan compromise on health care overhaul are reporting progress paring the costs of the plan as they push for a deal this week. Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, the Democrat leading the negotiations, said Wednesday new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office show the plan that's taking shape would cover 95 percent of Americans by 2015, and cost about $900 billion over 10 years.

July 19th, 2009 GOP leader: Health care overhaul too drasticWASHINGTON — The Senate's top Republican says the U.S. has the best health care in the world and the system doesn't need to be scrapped.

July 19th, 2009 Budget chief sees progress in health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's budget director is playing down reports that lawmakers are bogged down over the health care overhaul. Peter Orszag says good progress is being made toward Obama's goal of a bill in August.

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 Officials push for health care in spite of delayWASHINGTON — Legislation to overhaul the nation's health systems is unlikely to make it through the House and Senate before the August target set by President Barack Obama and other Democratic leaders, lawmakers said Sunday. Democrats and Republicans alike said the administration's sweeping health care proposals are moving forward on Capitol Hill but cautioned against rushing into a spending plan that could costs trillions of dollars over the next decade.

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.

June 28th, 2009 Axelrod expects Senate to tackle health care firstWASHINGTON — A top presidential adviser says it probably will be the fall before the Senate deals with a major climate change bill that just passed the House. White House aide David Axelrod says he thinks health care overhaul will be the first thing on senators' agenda.

May 30th, 2009 Top Democrats pledge cooperation on health careWASHINGTON — The two Senate Democrats leading the drive to overhaul health care say they will work together to come up with legislation. Sens. Max Baucus and Edward Kennedy said in a joint statement Saturday they intend to cooperate so their committees pass similar bills that can be combined into a single piece of legislation before the Senate leaves for its August recess.