President Barack Obama said Tuesday he is "cautiously optimistic" about the fate of health reform legislation following a meeting with Senate Democrats.
Obama, flanked by some of the leading Senate Democrats working to craft a final compromise that can get the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster, said it was clear that they were on the "precipice" of a historic achievement.
"There are still some differences that have to be worked on," he said. "This was not a roll call. This was a broad-based discussion about how we move forward."
He added, "But whatever differences remain, there is broad consensus around reforms that will finally, number one, protect every American from the worst practices in the health insurance industry."
Obama also stressed that the reforms now envisioned, even without a public alternative to private insurance companies, would bring down the costs for the vast majority of Americans.
"Families will save on their premiums; businesses that will see their costs rise if we do nothing will save money now and in the future," he said. "This plan will strengthen Medicare and extend the life of that program. And because it gets rid of the waste and inefficiencies in our health care system, this will be the largest deficit reduction plan in over a decade."
He added, "Finally, we agree on reforms that will make coverage affordable for 30 million Americans who don't have it."
Noting that these were the goals of the health reform he called for in addressing a joint session of Congress earlier this year, Obama emphasized that the reform bill is not a minor tweak of the health care system.
"These are big changes. They represent the most significant reform of our health care system since the passage of Medicare," he said. "They will save families money; they will save businesses money; and they will save government money. And they're going to save lives."
He added, "That's why this reform has to pass on our watch."
Obama cautioned supporters and advocates that the final bill would not include all of the plans and programs that they may desire.
"What I told my former colleagues today is that we simply cannot allow differences over individual elements of this plan to prevent us from meeting our responsibility to solve a longstanding and urgent problem for the American people," he said. "They are waiting for us to act. They are counting on us to show leadership."
He added, "I don't intend to let them down."
Obama urged all of the members of the Senate to carefully consider the measure before them.
"There is still work to be done in the next few days," he said. "I am absolutely confident that if the American people know what's in this bill and if the Senate knows what's in this bill that this is going to pass, because it's right for America."
He added, "I'm feeling cautiously optimistic that we can get this done and start rolling up our sleeves and getting to work improving the lives of the American people."
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.., the Majority Whip in charge of wrangling the 60 votes to ensure the bill can pass, said he had not yet secured commitments from all 58 Democrats and two independents in his caucus to vote for the measure.
"Once I have 60 votes on the board, I will be content," he said. "I don't take anything for granted and we want to get this done before Christmas in the Senate."
He added, "We have to weigh on balance what remains and what remains is dramatic and we just don't want to lose the opportunity."
Durbin said he was fairly confident that he wouldn't lose any liberal votes because of concessions made to moderates.
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