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September 12, 2009

US Healthcare Debates Continue over Weekend
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=268DCA4:A6F02AD83191E1602D2D4FDA02AFD9405C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
In Saturday address, President Barack Obama said country has had 'long
and important debate' but 'now is the time' to resolve issue 
The White House and Congress are working to find compromises on health
care reform that will appeal to both Democrats and Republicans.
President Barack Obama (file photo)In
his Saturday address, U.S. President Barack Obama said the country has
had "a long and important debate" but "now is the time" to resolve the
issue. A key contentious issue regards illegal immigrants. Mr.
Obama says illegal immigrants will not receive government benefits for
health care. But Republicans argue proposed laws have no plans for
enforcing the ban. Republicans want to require everyone to show
proof of legal residence. Democrats argue this creates additional
bureaucracy that hinders legal residents and citizens from getting
covered. U.S. Senator John Cornyn from the U.S. state of Texas
said in the Republican party's weekly address that Mr. Obama and the
Democrats had not done enough to find bipartisan solutions. Members of
the Senate Finance committee are negotiating a new version of a bill to
be presented to Congress early next week. Mr. Obama has pledged to pass
health care reform before the end of the year. Some information for this
report was provided by AP.


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