11 seconds ago 2009-12-11T11:45:05-08:00
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is welcoming a Senate Democratic compromise on a government-run insurance, saying it clears the way for passage of an historic bill.
Obama said Wednesday the Senate made critical progress on a "creative framework" that he believes will pave the way for the legislation. Senate moderates and liberals hammmered out a plan that includes nonprofit national health plans administered by the Office of Personnel Management, which runs the popular federal employees' health plan. The compromise also opens Medicare to uninsured Americans beginning at age 55, effective in 2011. The Senate now is in its 10th straight day of debate on the massive bill.
