Obama Tries to Build Momentum for Health Care Overhaul

Staff and Wire Reports

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will tell the nation in a prime-time address precisely how he wants to expand health care, pitching a fresh argument -- but, to liberal disappointment, no demand -- for a government-run insurance option.

"The president's going to speak clearly and directly to the American people about what's in this bill for them," press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday, hours before Obama will appear before a rare joint session of Congress and a live national television audience.

Opening a final push for his top domestic priority, Obama will appeal for a health care overhaul that provides new and crucial protections for people who already have insurance, affordable access to coverage to those without, and reduced spending for families, businesses and government. Sitting in first lady Michelle Obama's box in the House gallery will be Americans who have suffered from high costs and insurance practices, and Obama will mention some specifically in his remarks.

You can watch the president's speech on NEWS 9 and News9.com starting at 7 p.m.

The speech is just the opening salvo to a broader effort by Obama, with other events to follow, including a rally Saturday in the Midwest. On Capitol Hill, the top Senate negotiator, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said he would move ahead with legislation the week of Sept. 21 whether he has Republican backing or not.

Oklahomans will be watching closely tonight as President Obama lays out his plan before Congress and the nation.

"Basically what I'm looking for is a system that is not a government takeover of health care, it's a system that lets the private sector be involved in the health care system that will lower costs, create more accessibility to the health care system for those who are uninsured," Rep. Mary Fallin (R) Oklahoma.

The takeover she's talking about refers to a government run insurance plan, or the so-called public option, to increase competition with insurance companies which could lower costs.

But the president doesn't have 60 votes in the Senate to get the measure passed and there's talk he may compromise on the issue.

But Oklahoma Democrats believe the public option needs to remain on the table.

"I think they need some fair competition which they don't have, frankly, right now which is why Americans' insurance premiums are doubling, which is why health care costs continue to skyrocket and more and more Americans lose coverage every day because of things like pre-existing conditions," Todd Goodman with the Oklahoma Democratic Party said.

But this is something state Republicans are against and they say the public oppose as well. They showed it in last month's heated town hall meetings.

"When has the government got into anything and done a better job than the private sector?" Gary Jones with the Oklahoma Republican Party said. "Everything the government gets into, it ends up costing more. There are some changes that need to be made and we agree with that, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater."

The GOP says the president needs to slow down and not rush this but democrats say they've tried that before and nothing has gotten done.

Tune in to NEWS 9 This Morning to hear what Representatives Mary Fallin and Dan Boren thought about the president's speech.