(CNN) – A bill to overhaul the nation's ailing health-care system may not pass until January or later, Democratic Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania said Friday.
His comment to CNN affiliate WJPA differed from President Barack Obama's repeated insistence that Congress will pass a health care bill by the end of 2009.
Speaking in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, Murtha said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wanted a health-care bill passed before the current August recess.
"She said we're going to have it before we left," Murtha said. "We said, 'No, no, we want some time to think about this.' We're taking some time to make sure it's done right. I don't know that we'll get something done before January, and even then we may not get it done. We're going to do it right when it's finally done."
There are deep divides between Democrats and Republicans over the health-care issue, and Murtha said more time is needed to come up with a solution that works.
"We said to the speaker, the leadership, let's not rush this thing," he said. "Let's do it right, so we'll have a uniquely American plan, if the thing passes."
Some town hall meetings on health care have erupted in emotional and angry debate, and Murtha said such a response is natural in uncertain times such as the current economic recession.
"I understand why they're against it - they're worried it's going to harm their health care," he said. "But we're going to work it out."
From CNN Politics
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He's toast anyway, in more ways than one, so he HAS to say this to have any hope.
no we need it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have always supported Murtha. I want to know where he stands on Public Option.
Does anyone notice anything about 'who' attends the town hall meetings. White, Over 50 Years of Age and no doubt if not on Medicare or Medicaid as well as Social Security, soon will be.
I think for all those that do not want the government in their health care that are on Medicare or Medicaid to get off.
Wow...for the first time i agree with this old guy!
Finally! a democrap talking with sense.
When are the troops coming home Mr Murtha?
When it comes to something for the average person, certain groups always seem to stall....wake up America!
Until there is a plan that brings price competition back to the point of sale, i.e. consumers have a financial stake in what their doctors charge and choose their physicians based on quality of care and price, then the system will remain broken. Until we address the consolidation in the health insurance industry which is stifling price competition resulting in 20% policy premium increases year over year across carriers, the system will remain broken.
Healthcare refrom should not be about insuring the uninsured first. It should be about creating a healthcare infrastructure that puts an end to hyper-inflation of services and service fees. We need to get the cost of healthcare down before we add millions more into the system.
why are you not in jail Jack boy? Even the liberal press knows you're the top crook in Washington.
Be quiet, Blue Dog, before you end up in jail with your son.......Walk quietly and carry no stick......Kapeech?
Hey, I got an idea.
Let's take the PORK money back the this dope got from Obummer and pay for Health Care or legal Americans.
That's a deal I can support.
There are deep divides among the real democrats over these issues regardless of what their party members in dc think. The democrat leaders in dc for some reason all of a sudden think they are above the rest of the world and certainly they think they are much better and much smarter than their constituents,
This has gone on long enough. There is no question of a "rush." This has been in front of us since Teddy Roosevelt's presidency! Everyone knows by now what everyone wants in the bills, and also what Congress is willing to pass. Everyone's freeqin' had their say and then some. Delay for any length of time is a TACTIC, meant to KILL desperately needed REFORM, so no more dithering or dawdling. On your bike, Congress. Return from your interminable vacation, conference this puppy and VOTE on it already.
Trouble is most of your political counterparts only want to ram some plan down our throats, they don't care what's in this bill, just like the stimulus!
NO to healthcare reform!!
Murtha, of all people, should understand why he should support health care reform.
Good. And you can start with tort reform.
This old grandpa needs to retire. Ordinary peiople retire at 60, why not these corrupt politicians?
Mr. Murtha, Pardon Me!! YOU ARE NOT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA!!!
I've got to agree with Murtha on this one. I guess there's a first for everything. But yes...this needs ( and merits! ) more time to get it right.
Better yet, try this when unemployment is not double digits and climbing. This is a huge financial bet just when we are trying to keep our economy from tanking completely. Bad timing for this deal! It might be what they consider good political timing, but for America this is about the last thing we should be considering right now. First we should just get back to work!
F.ire
L.ou
D.obbs
We don't need health care in this country. And why is Obama in a rush to push it thru. People that are on social security have a medicare card which pays 80% of the bill. If Obama passed a bill for people on social security to have a medicaid card also that would pay 20% of the bill only which means they would be clear of owing any money for doctor or hosptial bills. I am not interested in a health care bill that I can't read what is in it.
Finally a smart democrate who works for the people who put him in office, rather than the Obama Socialistic Republic of Non-America supporters like the rest of the dems and some of the repubs who work on private agendas.
Murtha is a pork-filled blowhard personally responsible for wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on his disgusting airport. Don't believe a word this idiot says! This is probably an ulterior motive by trying to defray the heat his party is getting on healthcare! No surprise their poll numbers are dropping like a rock!
Nothing wrong with taking your time and ironing out all of the details to make it the best it can be. Doing something because it is better than nothing never proves to be a good strategy.
Mr Murtha, I certainly do respect your advise on war matters but IF you had wanted to run the country you should have ran for President. NOW having said that. Shut up and let the President do his job and for goodness sakes give him the support he needs to get a job done. For this non support from you, I am very suprised. I thought better of you.
murtha -the longer you wait –this will only get worse and we will loose the whole thing-- push it through and we can correct it later. just make a plan just like medicare--it is marvolouse. it is sad to see these greedy old grey hair people worried they will lose a dime. and we have a younger generation who is really having it rough-i am ashamed to be a old medicare person.
RepMurtha needs to get right and push Pres.Obama health care program.As always the congress can not get together and work out a bill discuss it and then vote to pass health care bill.People are hurtuing out in the country.Democrats should get behind the President's program and pass the bill.But again lot ponying around and nothing is happening where is the Speaker she is not doing her job.Democrats put the pressure on your own, then on the Republicans..The Republicans are sitting back and letting the Democrats shoot down health care reform.
How is it possible that a guy like Murtha, who has many questionable connections within the defense industry, yield any influence within the Democratic party ??
Never thought I would agree with Murtha but I find myself in total agreement!! Get healthcare right and take whatever time is necessary for it to happen. Rushing a bad bill through is worse than where we are today!!
In agreement with Murtha
this thing is over......Obama needs to let it die quietly and realize he is Carter II
Murtha has proven to be insignificant ....Nothing he says or does will get himself elected again ....GOOD BYE..
This ia prime example that says Presidents do not / should not make policy. They can advocate for it, but in the end Congress is the policy makers and they need to start doing their job. Despite what golden words are being said by the white house and others, I challenge anyone who can name a public plan in the world that does not have some kind of rationing. I have looked, some are better than other yes, but of the leading nations, they all have rationing. To say we won't have it is a plain lie. The White House and Congress needs to stop lying to us. I am RN in an ICU. I think we need rationing so much money is wasted on the last few months / year of people's lives. Just don't lie about it, tell us the truth for once. But they won't because in the end they only want to be re-elected, Dems and Reps. Time has come for Congressional term limits! Yeah I bet that will ever happen, but it has been way too long for it not to.
IS there not enough pork in the health care bill for Murtha?
Gee, another sensible Democrat who's declined to drink the kool-aid.
When even John Murtha wants to put the brakes on, it's time to run up the white flag on this dog. Try again, with stuff that doesn't require 53 new departments and doesn't gut what currently DOES work.
I totally agree with Murtha on this is
I'm seeing lately how true the joke is about not belonging to any organized party, I'm a Democrat. as hard as it is to get Democrats to agree and get things done, the good thing is that it proves we are capable of individual, independent thought, not a bunch of mindless sheep like the far right. I hope, though, for the good of the country, the Democrats in congress can get on the same page as the people who elected them and get real health care reform passed and soon. and please don't bother eviscerating the bill trying to appease the republicans, who have already sworn not to support it. just do it right!!
Translation: the bill is circling the drain.
Time to cut this corrupt old barnacle loose. He's a real liability.
Hey Murtha, is Specter a better Demoocrat than you? I am from Pennsylvania and you can be replaced also. Do your job Murtha.
wow. I think this is the first thing he has said that I can agree with. "...We're going to do it right when it's finally done." And I am a Republican. I wish more people would state the same thing. If this is going to happen, take your time and focus on the root cause of why cost go up every year by double digits.
The Democrats are about the worst bunch of elected official I have seen in YEARS!!!
They have a chance to really do something yet they are scared to do it because they are more concerned about getting re-elected than doing the right thing for the majority of American who really need Healthcare!! Murtha knows the more they delay the better the chances no bill will come out and their chancesof getting re-elected would be better!!! Do what the leader of your party and what the majority of Americans want!!!
They are A BUNCH OF IDIOTS!!
Why don't we just tally up daily each death that occurs in this country that is due to the victim not having access to the health care that would have covered the testing or treatment that could have saved them. Then maybe we can get some momentum going. If you could see such a list, Mr. Murtha, and watch it grow day by day, would you be willing to move a little more quickly?
Neither the Democrats or Republicans have the American people's interest at heart. It's all about them and getting re-elected. Republicans lie to keep the health care industry rich and make Obama look bad and Democrats don't have the common sense of a flea. I am definitely for term limits. Throw all the bums out!
Murtha is stalling. I agree time is needed but not that much. There are good minds working on this. I would suggest he get with it.
Hopefully, there are some adults on duty at the Democrat Party.
This guys needs to be updated because they are out of service. The more you wait the more people loose their insurance and the more people died. Murtha you cannot be reading this bill for ever. We need it now now.
If the Dems have a filibuster proof senate and a huge majority in the house, then how are the deep divides between Dems and Rep. significant? Is it just possible that the Dems are divided among themselves? Geez, Murtha and Pelosi would be whining if the senate were 99 to 1 Dems. The Rep. just keep torpedoing things don't they ? Oh wait a minute, us Dems can still blame Bush for this can't we? Wake up party, or it will be back to the future come election time.
kathy and preston as llong as doctors make as much money as they want
Kathy and preston the only way health care would work iis if doctors would make the same salery
The best time to begin socialized medicine in this country is not "later, after careful planning;" the best time is "never."
We do not have the productivity from our citizens to support any program based on sharing.
When your not the one starving or lacking health care I can understand Murtha's lack of urgency. If you put Murtha under a veil of ignorance and he didn't know he was a congressman with great health care benefits would he fill the same. I have health insurance but many of my friends and family do not. We've been waiting ten years for health care reform, so it's finally time to get health care reform done. If you know the answer to the question of what's needed what utility is there in delaying the response. I'm tired of politicians who find utility in being obstructionist to pander to those who have no clue about health care reform.