Presidential News Conference

Presidential Obama's Press Conference on Health Care

Ben Feller, AP: Have you told which ideas are acceptable to you? Why aren't you stepping in to get a deal done?

Obama Response: I put out the ideas I think are best, but I'm not ruling out others. I've been clear, don't burden the middle class.Other countries pay $6k less/yr for health care than the US. If we reduce costs by $2-3k, that could go into ppl's pockets

Chuck Todd, NBC: Will you cover everyone or will some be left out?

Obama: Estimates are that current plans would cover 97-98% of people

Twitter Comment:@Im_X1 Here's an idea: let healthcare be run by healthcare professionals, not insurance companies and drug companies that are only in it for the $$

Jake Tapper, ABC: Sacrifices will have to be made, tests, referrals, choice. Do you accept that Americans will have to give anything up?

Obama: We'll have to give up things that don't make you healthier, duplicate tests from poor communication.

Twitter Comment:@queenuniquemvp Our President just used the blue pill red pill theory! Ha! Gooo MATRIX! Yessssssssss!

Twitter Comment:@AnnCurry: Here you go, link to smart, clear perspective on Health care reform. http://tinyurl.com/mh3mk5

Obama: We can't afford what we're doing right now. Debt & deficit great concerns. We shrunk spending 2.2 T over 10 yrs, but one do more must eliminate waste & change health care.

Chip Reid, CBS: What specific medicare cuts are u proposing? What about taking medicare decisions out of politics realm to individual body.

Obama: Have plan to remove it from politics, give it to independent body, was originally a Republican idea.

Obama: Plan to change how medicare is delivered

Twitter Comments:@rebekahcain i would really like to have additional health care choices - private and public options.

Twitter Comments: TracyReneeJones I think if more ppl had health care then there would be more ppl working and more ppl paying taxes.

Reporter: Do you need to take harder line w/Wall Street? Would you considering going a step further & proposing fee on non-traditional products?

Obama: Fees for transactions we want to discourage is one idea on the table.

Stephen Koff, CPD: Many concerned public option = reduced benefits. Will u guarantee govt not deny treatment?

Twitter Comments: @BarackObama Health care reform opponents scale up attacks, playing politics w/our lives & livelihood. Fight back: http://bit.ly/1bciXx

Stephen Koff, CPD: Will you & Congress commit to using public option?

Obama: I cant guarantee government wont change health care delivery system, but now insurance cost make decisions. Docs/patients should make decisions

Twitter Comments: @rebekahcain Obama: I have the best healthcare in the world and I'm trying to make sure everyone has that, too.

nprnewsTranscript: Obama's Press Conference http://bit.ly/3WehWc