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Did Obama do enough to pass health care reform?

Whitehouse.gov photo of State of the Union speech

Those interested in hearing what President Barack Obama had to say about health care reform during his first State of the Union speech had to wait Wednesday night.

Health care reform took a backseat to more pressing topics. First, he spoke about the economy. The country has moved past the recession, the banks are now (for the most part) on solid ground and the United States is ready to grow. The president then talked about creating more jobs, innovation and education.

He hit on health care reform, a topic that consumed Washington politics and debate in 2009, about 30 minutes into the 70-minute address.

He began with: "I didn't choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt.  And by now it should be fairly obvious that I didn't take on health care because it was good politics. I took on health care because of the stories I've heard from Americans with preexisting conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage; patients who've been denied coverage; families -- even those with insurance -- who are just one illness away from financial ruin."

Somewhere in the middle, he asked lawmakers to submit better ideas to reform the health care system if they think current health bills (dubbed "Obamacare") won't work.  

And, ended with: "Here's what I ask Congress, though: Don't walk away from reform.  Not now.  Not when we are so close.  Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people. Let's get it done. Let's get it done."

Clearly, Obama wants a reform bill on his desk, but he failed to articulate a course to navigate the bill through Congress. Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute says (via The New York Times):

President Obama failed to offer any path to break the Congressional stalemate over health care reform in his address last night, simply offering another rallying cry for his signature domestic policy initiative and repeating talking points he's made in countless speeches all year.

I agree with Turner's summary and now believe health care reform is going nowhere. Those speeches and talking points haven't worked. Obama hasn't been able to lead a reform bill through Congress despite having majorities in both houses, including a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority in the Senate that's now just a majority more susceptible to Republican delay tactics.

So, if Obama was trying to move a health reform bill that's stuck out of Congress with the State of the Union -- he failed. Overall, it was an inspiring speech, but it didn't leave me thinking lawmakers will change the status quo.  

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