Obama Wants Health Care Bill by Year's End

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted May 13, 2009 12:31 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama today called on lawmakers to send him a health care reform bill before the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal reports. “We've got to get it done this year,” the president said in a meeting with House Democrats. “We don't have any excuses, the stars are aligned.” He also applauded Nancy Pelosi’s pledge that the House will introduce legislation before the August recess.

“Our health care system is broken,” Obama said. “It's unsustainable for families, for businesses. It is unsustainable for the federal government and state governments.”

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President Barack Obama, accompanied by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif. (AP Photo)

President Barack Obama makes remarks on healthcare today outside the Oval Office with House Democrats. (AP Photo)

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We find private, one-party meetings that set arbitrary deadlines a sign of a troubling lack of bipartisanship. - Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri

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