Obama discusses healthcare, entitlements

ALBUQUERQUE, May 14 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama spoke of healthcare and entitlement reform, the economy and bipartisanship Thursday during a town hall meeting in New Mexico.

Obama said a single-payer healthcare system made sense "if I were starting from scratch," but the United States "has a tradition of employer-based healthcare."

Obama said he favors a system "where if you already have healthcare through your employer and you're happy with it, you don't have to change doctors, you don't have to change plans -- nothing changes."

"If you don't have healthcare or you're highly unsatisfied with your health care, then let's give you choices," he said, "including a public plan."

Obama expressed confidence the House and Senate would produce a healthcare reform bill before the August recess.

Turning to the economy, the president said: "The country as a whole ... took a big hit. We've seen trillions of dollars of wealth removed and it's going to take some time to catch up."

Obama called long-term debt and the deficit "unsustainable" and said they must be reduced. Programs, waste, abuse and earmarks can be eliminated, but "we're still going to have a major problem, because (of) Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid (and) interest on the national debt," he said.

Obama said his administration would reach out to Congress to undertake entitlement reform that provides a safety net for those who need it, but also put programs on firmer footing for the next generation.

Obama said he also has been reaching out to congressional Republicans, telling them he wants to work with them.

"I think we'll see more and more agreement over time as the Republican Party starts to realize that the American people want results right now. They don't want bickering," Obama said.