Health Care Reform | ABC30 Fresno | abc30.com

kfsn

By ABC30

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

President Obama isn't taking a break on Labor Day. He used the day to talk about his own work in progress: health care reform.

But it is a speech he has yet to deliver that's stirring up controversy. Tuesday, the President will address the nation's school children.

But some parents are accusing the President of trying to delve too directly into local education.

As ABC's TJ Winick reports, the President hopes to calm fears on both fronts. President Obama appeared fired up this Labor Day, while speaking to his base, organized labor, at the annual AFL-CIO picnic in Cincinnati.

President Obama said:"Michelle says she's a better griller than me. First, he took credit for helping turn the economy around. "

President Obama said said: "Our recovery plan is working. The financial system has been saved from collapse. Home sales are up."

In a preview of his Wednesday address to a joint session of congress, the president reiterated his support of a government-run insurance plan, or the so called "public option".

President Obama said: "I continue to believe that a public option within the basket of insurance choices would help improve quality and bring down costs." Critics of the public option characterize it as a government take-over of health care.

Rep. Mike Pence, (R) Indiana said: "Allow Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines. Let's bring about malpractice reform to end the era of defensive medicine. These are all ideas we're willing to bring to the table, but we don't want a government takeover of health care, paid for with $800 billion in taxes. "

The president even took on critics who say he shouldn't be delivering a message to students through TV and the internet on Tuesday.

Certain school districts are actually refusing to broadcast the remarks, after some parents complained their children are being brainwashed.

President Obama said: "Yes, I'm going to have something to say to our children, telling them to stay in school and work hard, because that's the right message to send.

TJ Winick said: "Here in Washington, there are signs a health care bill could soon emerge from the senate finance committee. The chairman, Sen. Max Baucus, is now pushing a new plan that includes a fee on insurance companies to help pay for uninsured Americans.