As of Monday evening, Democrats still didn't have the 216 votes they need in the House of Representatives to pass their health care reform bill. President Obama is hopeful he'll be able to sign the bill into law this week, and he hit the road on Monday with a campaign-style stop in Ohio to put pressure on Congress.
"I want some courage! I want us to do the right thing Ohio!" The President told the crowd in Strongsville.
Back in nation's capital Republican lawmakers sounded off about the legislative process. "There's never been a reconciliation process as corrupt as what is happening this week," says Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Florida).
Health care is a hot topic in Western New York where nearly 75,000 people in Erie county alone have no health insurance. "What I believe is all people have a right to have good health and they also in our country should have a right to access good health care," says David Roma, a registered nurse and community educator with the Catholic Health Wellness Program.
Some Western New Yorkers say they want Congress to take some time to explain to the public what exactly is in the final version of the bill. "I hope they present the issues and get them discussed and reviewed enough to make good decisions," says Tonawanda resident Nancy Rzepa, "A quick decision isn't always a good decision."
The President insists the legislation will provide millions of Americans with health coverage, lower costs, and make sure patients are not denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Republicans though say the Democrats' bill will make health care more expensive and they warn of consequences if Democrats force the bill through. "If they do this, it's going to poison the well for anything else they would like to achieve," says Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina).
"Democrats, Republicans... they just fight for nothing basically," says Greg Tedesco of Buffalo, "We're Americans first. That's how it should be."
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