White House says Obama considering own health care legislation to end Capitol Hill stalemate

September 16th, 2009 Baucus calls health care bill commonsense measureWASHINGTON — A prominent Democratic senator is calling his 10-year, $856 billion health care bill a common sense measure that can win broad support. Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, unveiled his much-awaited legislation Wednesday after months of bipartisan negotiations that failed to win visible Republican support.

September 4th, 2009 Obama talks to House liberals about health careWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama discussed health care in a conference call with House members, including liberals wary of his next move on the issue. Obama, who is at Camp David, spoke to leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus on Friday.

August 19th, 2009 White House: Obama would go to moon for his goalWASHINGTON — How far is President Barack Obama willing to go for a deal on overhauling the health care system? Try all the way to the moon. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs joked Wednesday that Obama would orbit the moon if he thought it would help get a deal on a bill Congress can vote on after it returns from summer break.

August 6th, 2009 White House: Health care meeting not a negotiationWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama's meeting with a bipartisan group of senators on health care reform wasn't a "negotiating session" but simply a chance for him to get an update. Obama met Thursday with six members from the Finance Committee: Max Baucus of Montana, and Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Mike Enzi of Wyoming.

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 21st, 2009 Budget chief: Docs fees not paid for in Obama billWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's pledge to make sure health care legislation is fully paid for excludes $245 billion to raise fees for doctors treating Medicare patients, a senior administration official said Tuesday. Peter Orszag, the budget director, said the administration always had assumed the money would be spent to prevent a cut of more than 20 percent in doctor fees that is scheduled to take effect.

July 17th, 2009 Obama quickly plans health care statementWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has quickly scheduled a statement on health care for Friday afternoon as concerns rise about the cost of new legislation. Obama wants to sign a bill into law this year that would slow the rate of health care spending and expand health coverage to the millions of people who lack it.

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 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".

June 28th, 2009 Obama adviser: No ultimatums on health careWASHINGTON — Presidential adviser David Axelrod on Sunday said the White House hasn't issued ultimatums over its proposed health care overhaul because that approach kills grand ideas. Axelrod said the White House has made progress on a health care plan and is working with Congress.

June 25th, 2009 Falco urges health care overhaul at Capitol rallyWASHINGTON — Award-winning actress Edie Falco, cable television's no-nonsense "Nurse Jackie," delivered a stern message to lawmakers Thursday: fix health care. "I'm here because I've traveled through the health care system and there are some holes," Falco, a breast cancer survivor, told a Capitol Hill rally for health care overhaul.

June 23rd, 2009 Obama voicing confidence on health care changesWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he's "very optimistic" about the prospects for legislation revamping health care, arguing that the country simply must control skyrocketing costs in this field. He told a news conference th at unless the government acts now, the country will spend $1 out of every $5 on health care within the next 10 years.

June 11th, 2009 Obama: Cooperation with Hill needed on health careGREEN BAY, Wis. — President Barack Obama is vowing that he won't run roughshod over Congress in putting together legislation overhauling the country's health care system.

June 9th, 2009 Minority lawmakers to highlight health disparitiesWASHINGTON — Black, Latino and Asian lawmakers want President Barack Obama to focus more on racial disparities reported in medical treatment as the White House works toward overhauling the nation's health care system. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus sent Obama a letter last week calling for more attention to minority health problems.

May 11th, 2009 Obama's Day: Health care, basketballWASHINGTON — Reforming the health care system to make it affordable for all Americans is one of President Barack Obama's top priorities. Obama plans to talk Monday about a health care industry offer of $2 trillion in spending reductions over 10 years to help pay for the program.