US President Barack Obama said Tuesday that his upcoming meeting on health care reform with Republican leaders must involve real give-and-take negotiations between government parties rather than mere ‘political theatre’.
During a media conference, Obama said that the 25 February health care summit—which will also be attended by health care authorities—should “establish some common facts” on health care reform, and help establish an agreement between parties to solve the most serious health care problems the country is facing today.
Obama also said he is willing to consider a proposal from the Republicans aiming to include restrictions on medical malpractice lawsuits in a heath care bill, as long as the proposal can be proved to help cut total health care costs.
However, the president stated that bipartisanship on the health care issue will not necessarily mean that “Democrats give up everything they believe in”.
“Bipartisanship depends on a willingness among both Democrats and Republicans to put aside matters of party for the good of the country”, Obama said.
The president’s remarks came after a meeting with both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders—the first meeting he has had since his State of the Union address last month, when he promised to hold regular bipartisan discussions.
The half-day health care summit is part of the administration’s efforts to save health care legislation, one of the top domestic priorities for Obama. Televising the meeting would also help to fulfil Obama’s pledge of having health care talks broadcast live.
The upcoming negotiations with Republicans are said to be the administration’s first clear plan on proceeding with health care reform after the Democrats lost their 60-seat supermajority in the Senate.
