U.S. President Barack Obama is again pushing for passage of health-carereform legislation, a day after delivering a major speech on the issueto Congress and the American people. The president made his latest appeal to a group ofnurses here in Washington.
President Obama is repeating the message he sent in Wednesday's speech: It is time to stop arguing about health-care reform.
"Butwe have talked this issue to death, year after year, decade afterdecade," he said. "And the time for talk is winding down. The timefor bickering has passed. We're not the first generation to take upthis cause. But we can - and have to be - the last."
Thepresident went before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night togive details of his $900-billion proposal, which could include agovernment-run insurance option to compete with private insurancecompanies.
Liberal Democrats are insisting on the so-called"public option". But Republicans are criticizing it as a governmenttakeover of the health-care system.
Vice President Joe Biden says he expects health care reform legislation to be finished by late November.
Mr. Obama told the nurses group that their support is needed to help get health reform passed.
"Wewill bid farewell to the days when our health care system was a sourceof worry to families and a drag on our economy, and America willfinally join the ranks of every other advanced nation by providingquality, affordable health insurance to all of its citizens," he said.
Later, the president met with his cabinet to further underscore the importance of moving forward on his health-care plan.
Afterward,he said he had accepted an apology from Republican Congressman JoeWilson, who shouted, "You lie!" during Mr. Obama's address to Congress.
"We all make mistakes," said the president. "He apologized quickly and without equivocation. And I am appreciative of that."
But the president added that he wants a civil debate on health care, free of name-calling.
Inthe coming days, Mr. Obama will take his health reform campaign on theroad. At least one trip is planned, to the north central state ofMinnesota.