November 7, 2009
Posted: November 7th, 2009 12:55 PM ET

ALT TEXT

The president paused for a photo after meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and other House Democrats on Capitol Hill Saturday. (Photo Credit: Matt Hoye/CNN)

Washington (CNN) - Emerging from a meeting with President Barack Obama, the House Democratic leadership appeared confident Saturday that their health care legislation would pass.

"Today we will make not only history, but progress for America's working families," Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters assembled outside the meeting room.

"We're on the cusp of making an historical decision on behalf of the American people," added House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina.

A senior Democratic aide quoted the president as saying during the meeting that he was "absolutely confident that you guys will get this done."

"Absolutely confident that when I sign this in the Rose Garden, each and every one of you will be able to look back and say 'this was my finest moment in politics,'" the aide quoted Obama as saying.

White House spokesman Bill Burton said the president made the case that Congress has a historic opportunity today to provide stability and security for those who have insurance, affordable coverage for those who don't and bring down the cost of health care for families, small businesses and the government.

Burton also reported that Obama told the Democratic lawmakers that they had made more progress on comprehensive reform than any administration and any Congress in the past 70 years, and that they should take this historic opportunity to pass health care reform so that he can sign a bill by the end of this year.

Full story

Updated: 1:27 p.m.

–CNN's Elaine Quijano contributed to this report.

Filed under: Democrats • Health care • House • President Obama


Jane   November 7th, 2009 3:52 pm ET

Yep, be confident it will pass and see how many of you get voted out of office.

Michelle   November 7th, 2009 3:42 pm ET

I'm praying that this passes, and that it is a good bill, with opportunity for all Americans, and that the terrible things the other party has been saying are shown to be the lies they are.We are all Americans, and we have a responsibility to each other first, party second. Hate has no place in this discussion, and the fear-mongering from Palin on up has been atrocious. They should be ashamed of their support for the insurance companies.

mjm   November 7th, 2009 3:19 pm ET

I think a lot of you dems are going to learn the hard way that this is NOT how it's done in America.

We already have an insurance industry. Thousands of Americans work for them every single day. The democrat’s assault on this industry is a travesty.

The Dems had their social medicine with Medicare. It's a failure. It will be unsustainable in 10 years.

The only bright spot was Medicare Advantage where private meets public. Instead of making that their cornerstone, they decide to destroy it.

My father has Medicare Advantage. He CHOSE that over Medicare for a reason. He wanted BETTER. Now, he'll have less health coverage.

Then there is the price tag. $1.2 trillion at least. Generation will be ENSLAVED with taxes and debt for years to come.

The very idea of taxing people over 40% of their income to pay for someone else’s insurance is as UNAMERICAN as it gets.

Way to destroy a nation......Democrats.

Republicans will be voted into office for the next 20 years with the promise to repeal HR 3200.

New Father   November 7th, 2009 3:05 pm ET

Tax businesses big and small, cut medicare $500 billion, fine and jail time for those who don't buy in, 3 years ago unemployment was under 5% and than what happened? Pelosi and Obama became the majority in Congress followed by Obama becoming president. Since than what happened to all the jobs? Have no fear America FDR fixed the economy after only 10 years of a depression and than WWII. So only 7 more years of a jobless recovery and for his 3 term Obama will take us to war and than the jobs will come, so relax only 7 years left.

northwest   November 7th, 2009 3:03 pm ET

Lets hope it passes this is what American wants and what people in this country need .
This is our day in the sun.
Let the winning votes go forward.

Thanks President Obama we admire you.

sharong58   November 7th, 2009 3:00 pm ET

I am one of the fortunate ones who has a fairly good health insurance plan. I am not worried about it changing! In fact, my company has kept down costs (they pay part and I pay part of my premiums) and I am only paying about $100 a month out of my check for a ppo policy that covers 90/10 after deductible. I don't think that healthcare reform will change my company's policies. They already comply with the law.
And every company I have ever worked at offered healthcare benefits.
But there are a lot of small companies out there who need an incentive to do so, and there are a lot of unemployed indiviguals out there who not only don't have jobs but don't have medical benefits.
Case in point, my son, who is single and 28, can't find a job and doesn't even qualify for the public aid medical card (the public option that is government run, we pay taxes on, and has been around for years! . . . how about that!?) because he has no children. He doesn't qualify for any benefits program, so is really "up a creek"! These, and the family's whose main breadwinner just lost a job, are the ones who really need help!!!
That's why I am all for health reform! If it means higher taxes, so be it!
I would rather pay higher taxes for helping the economy is this country, than funding some insane war thousands of miles away that is draining this country of moeny and our sons!

dustbunny   November 7th, 2009 2:52 pm ET

Go ahead and vote for it. Then start looking for a job after next Nov.

Jenn, Philadelphia   November 7th, 2009 2:52 pm ET

This is a bill we will all be bound by, so they should take their time to get it right. The poor, who they claim to be helping, are the ones who are going to be hurt. Already they've removed abortion from the public option. I'm sure there are restrictions on birth control as well. The result is that the poor will not get the same medical benefits as the wealthy who can buy their own coverage. This Congress and this President want any bill just so they can say they did something, even if that bill isn't worth the 1,990 pages it's written on.

Barbara - ATL   November 7th, 2009 2:50 pm ET

Hopefully we're on our way!

W Spivey   November 7th, 2009 2:38 pm ET

Keep your eyes on that 177 member GOP Death Panel.

aa   November 7th, 2009 2:09 pm ET

we will get what we want it and we will vote GOP out

Hannibal Lector   November 7th, 2009 2:08 pm ET

I'm sure they're sure since they have the majority. But you people on medicare better be looking for some kind of welfare to pay for your plan.

Kate in SW Fla   November 7th, 2009 1:59 pm ET

With the Catholic Conference of Bishops signing on, the ONLY people left opposong this is the Insurance Industry and the Republicans in Washington DC. That's it. Just them. Here is who supports: doctors, nurses, hospitals, big pharma, medical device mfr, therapists, and the majority of citizens.

JP   November 7th, 2009 1:54 pm ET

This is a sad day for the country if the bill in it's present form passes.

katiec   November 7th, 2009 1:46 pm ET

It is time to get this crucial bill passed.
There has been too much politics as usual, sacrificing the welfare of the American people.
Too much support for the continuation of big business running and controlling our country.
Too much creditibility given to a political party out to destroy our
president, our country and us.

Dylan from MN   November 7th, 2009 1:43 pm ET

I love my president.

Rosalyn Casson   November 7th, 2009 1:42 pm ET

I'm so proud of you Mr. President!

Pragmatic   November 7th, 2009 1:39 pm ET

The issue of health care reform has been on the table since Harry Truman ... the republicans all decided the night President Obama was elected that they would, as a total "Stepford wives" group vote "no" on everything. This after 8 years of being the party of nothing done ... not on immigration – not on health care – not on SS or the tax code.

The Democrats are moving forward, with the debate and discussion being held in their own party – the GOP just lies about death panels and killing grandma ... yelling 'stay the course" !!!

Eric   November 7th, 2009 1:38 pm ET

I personally fully support this bill and I really hope that Congress and the Senate will see the importance of this bill and its effect on the future of this nation. The Republican party can resist and fight all they want against this bill but it will be nothing but political suicide for them in the end. Americans need health care reform and the future well being of this great nation depends on it !!!

C. Farrell, Houston, Tx   November 7th, 2009 1:37 pm ET

The great and late Senator Teddy Kennedy, this one's for you.

Gerry   November 7th, 2009 1:28 pm ET

So they are going to pass a health care bill again that no one has read, was not posted on the internet for 72 hours as promised and will probably break this country just to say they did it.

richard   November 7th, 2009 1:26 pm ET

Obama please don't do this health care stuff now we need jobs this will be the nail in our coffin come on!! Get with the program bro you need to get your head on straight what the mother u doing in the white house your a clown get your act 2geather don't make me feel even more sorry I voted for you ! (And to all those posting here obama in 2012 seriously get real my entire school voted for obama 900 students there is not one kid who would vote again seriously just give it up I'm not sure about the math but that pretty messed up ) bye you all

S.B.   November 7th, 2009 1:16 pm ET

I certainly hope the Dems will get their act together on this. So far I've been disappointed with this Congress. If they don't start getting some of these things done, I don't see much reason to vote them in again in 2010. I'm sure lots of people feel as I do. I think Nancy Pelosi is a good leader, but I have huge doubts about Harry Reid.

Gordon Shumway   November 7th, 2009 1:15 pm ET

Is this just another nail in the coffin of what used to be America?

annie against biased news   November 7th, 2009 1:14 pm ET

Is the above picture on a 'Wanted' poster? If not, it should be for the most evil corrupt politicians in the history of the USA!

Mark   November 7th, 2009 1:06 pm ET

On the way to bankrupting the nation!

Don   November 7th, 2009 1:05 pm ET

As a doctor, I've been waiting 20 years for people to start getting the greed out of heath care, so good luck today, Congress!

mark   November 7th, 2009 1:02 pm ET

America, soon to become the land of the "fee".
Government fees.

The Lonely Libertarian of Liverpool NY   November 7th, 2009 1:01 pm ET

It is unconstitutional to force people to have health insurance.
It's a freedom issue. Where in the world did anyone get the idea that the government has a Constitutional right to force supposedly free citizens to purchase anything?

Sorry boys, but.....   November 7th, 2009 1:00 pm ET

just passing Pelosi's gang does not make it law.....

The U.S. Senate will shred it and send it to Pelosi in her feed bag.....

Can't wait....

Mike in VA   November 7th, 2009 12:59 pm ET

Sad day for America if this passes and becomes law. It's not about health care. It is government power over American people.

John Ca   November 7th, 2009 12:58 pm ET

House Dems are keeping America great!!!

The healthcare bill will.....   November 7th, 2009 12:58 pm ET

die in the Senate.......

Obama has no political capital left........

With 10.2 % unemployment, it's all downhill from here....

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