Obama lays out vision for health reform
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama urged Democrats and Republicans Wednesday to set aside their differences and pass a bill that would reform the U.S. healthcare system.
In his second speech before a joint session of Congress, Obama outlined what he wants in any legislation that reaches his desk, and stressed the importance of passing reform legislation now.
He said he will not sign legislation that does not meet three basic goals: provide more security and stability for people with health insurance, provide insurance for those who don't have any and slow the growth of healthcare costs for families, businesses and governments. Healthcare reform, estimated to cost $900 billion over 10 years, must not add to the deficit, he said.
The government-run public health insurance option, anathema to Republicans and conservative Democrats, is his preference, Obama said.
"The public option is only a means to that end -- and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal," Obama said. "And to my Republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have."
Obama recognized variants of a public option have been included in several proposals in Congress, saying they were "constructive ideas" worth exploring.
"But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can't find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice," Obama said to loud applause. "And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need."
Obama did not mention a deadline during his 46-minute speech, but recent polls indicate voters will factor in healthcare-related issues when they go to the polls in 2010.
"Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy," Obama told lawmakers and other Washington dignitaries. "These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans."
Some can't get insurance through their work, he said. Others are self-employed and can't afford coverage. Still others are willing to pay but are still denied insurance because of "previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover," he said.
Until now, Obama had outlined broad goals for healthcare reform while letting Congress work out the details. Four of five House and Senate committees have passed their versions of healthcare legislation, and a fifth committee will take up the measure during the next two weeks.
During the August recess, opponents of the Democratic measures blanketed town hall meetings across the country, challenging congressional members during the meetings and frequently becoming disruptive.
Obama called claims of "death panels" and coverage for illegal immigrants "a lie" and "false."
Debating healthcare reform is difficult, Obama said, adding he understood the "politically safe move would be to kick the can further down the road."
"But that's not what the moment calls for. That's not what we came here to do," Obama said in closing. "We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it. ... I still believe we can do great things, and that here and now we will meet history's test."
GOP wants to 'start over' on healthcare
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., called on President Barack Obama Wednesday to "start over on a common-sense, bipartisan plan" to reform healthcare.
Delivering the GOP response to Obama's healthcare speech to a joint session of Congress, Boustany said the plan the president envisions would add hundreds of billions to the deficit, increase taxes on businesses and cut Medicare while doing "virtually nothing" to improve care for seniors.
Boustany, a cardiovascular surgeon who represents southwest Louisiana, repeated Republicans' claim that the public insurance option Obama pitched would amount to a government takeover of healthcare.
"The president had a chance tonight to take government-run healthcare off the table. Unfortunately, he didn't do it," Boustany said. "Replacing your family's current healthcare with government-run healthcare is not the answer."
Boustany called for limits on medical-liability claims, which he said drive up the cost of care, and said families and businesses should be allowed to buy insurance across state lines.
"It's time to start over on a common-sense, bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of healthcare while improving quality," Boustany said. "That's what I heard over the past several months in talking to thousands of my constituents."
He said Republicans and Democrats could agree on several goals. Among them:
-- Having a pre-existing condition should not prevent someone from getting coverage.
-- Individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices.
-- Government help can be provided to those who "cannot access a doctor."
-- Insurers should be able to offer incentives for "wellness care" and preventative medicine.
"These are common-sense reforms we can achieve right away -- without destroying jobs, exploding the deficit, rationing care, or taking away the freedom American families cherish," Boustany said.
Report: Iran has enough fuel for nuke bomb
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. intelligence agencies have determined Iran has sufficient nuclear fuel to produce enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon, a U.S. official said Wednesday.
Glyn Davies, U.S. ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, publicly acknowledged the development, saying Iran has achieved a "possible breakout capacity" to enrich its uranium fuel and convert it to weapons-grade material, The New York Times reported.
However, intelligence officials have informed President Barack Obama they believe Iran is holding back on pursuing the last essential actions in the process of building a sophisticated nuclear weapon, the newspaper said.
Davies' declaration was intended to promote harsher sanctions against Iran if that country declines Obama's invitation to engage in direct talks, the report said. However, the disclosure could present a challenge to U.S. efforts to persuade Israel to be more patient with a diplomatic approach to addressing the issue of Iranian nuclear capability.
Israel has said it would not rule out a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
Police: Bolivian acted alone in hijacking
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A man who said he spoke to God and wanted to warn of impending disaster acted alone in threatening to blow up an AeroMexico jetliner Wednesday, officials said.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jose Mar Flores Pereira, 44, of Bolivia, who called himself a Christian pastor and said he had spoken to God, The New York Times reported.
Flores, who authorities said had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, had threatened to blow up the plane as it flew from Cancun unless he could speak to Mexican President Felipe Calderon to warn him about coming disaster, said Genaro Garcia Luna, Mexico's public safety secretary.
"He said that because of that divine reference he wanted to alert Mexico City of an earthquake," Garcia said.
Flores, escorted by police, smiled and chewed gum.
"Christ is coming soon," he told reporters.
Mexican police and soldiers who charged the Boeing 737 had taken at least five men into custody following a standoff at the airport in Mexico City, but authorities later said Flores acted alone.
The 104 passengers on AeroMexico Flight 576 from Cancun to Mexico City were released about an hour after the 2:40 pm EST landing, El Universal reported online.
Flores had a criminal record in Bolivia for armed robbery and had told authorities the date -- Sept. 9, 2009, or 9/09/09 -- had a connection to 666 and that Mexico might suffer a devastating earthquake as a result, the Times reported.
