Obama Calls for Senate to Avoid “Parliamentary Measures” Blocking Health Care Reform

President Obama calls on the Senate to avoid using “parliamentary maneuvers” to stand in the way of passing health care reform in his weekly address.

“For the first time – there is a clear majority in the Senate that’s willing to stand up to the insurance lobby and embrace lasting health insurance reforms that have eluded us for generations,” the President says in his weekly address, “The question is whether the minority that opposes these reforms will continue to use parliamentary maneuvers to try and stop the Senate from voting on them.”

After a week of hurdles in the Senate, and a weekend ahead of work for them, Mr. Obama says that whatever a senator's position is, they “ought to allow for an up or down vote.”

“Whatever their position on health insurance reform, Senators ought to allow an up or down vote. Let’s bring this long and vigorous debate to an end. Let’s deliver on the promise of health insurance reforms that will make our people healthier, our economy stronger, and our future more secure. And as this difficult year comes to a close, let’s show the American people that we are equal to the task of meeting our great challenges.

The President devotes a large amount of his weekly address to highlighting the patient protections in the House and Senate proposals in Congress, and noted that the last time a Patient Bill of Rights was within reach was in 2001 – which brought together Senators form both side of the isle – like Kennedy and McCain.

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