No.308 SIM音読用英文

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Lawmakers Give Mixed Reaction on Obama Health Care Speech
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President Obama said

the current system has led the country to a breaking point,

imposing hardships on middle-class Americans

who struggle to pay for health care,

or who are unable to obtain it.


Saying the United States is the only advanced democracy

and only wealthy nation

that allows such hardships for millions of its people,

the president said the time has come

to put politics aside and solve the problem.


The president said reform proposals

which he estimates would cost $900 billion over 10 years,

would provide security and stability to the insured,

and make it possible

for tens of millions of Americans who are not

to get affordable insurance

through a proposed exchange system

in which private companies would compete.


Democrats trying to steer reform through Congress

against a nearly solid wall of Republican opposition

said the president delivered a clear vision and specifics,

and a strong message of leadership.


While praising the president's eloquence,

Republicans asserted

that he failed to deliver specifics,

and they re-stated criticisms

that Democratic proposals would impose new tax burdens

on Americans and small businesses

and add to deficit spending.


Republican Charles Boustany,

who is also a physician,

delivered the formal Republican response.


"It's clear

the American people want health care reform,

but they want their elected leaders

to get it right.


Most Americans wanted to hear the president tell

Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid, and the rest of the Congress

that it's time to start over on a common sense,

bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of health care

while improving quality."


President said he will continue to seek common ground

and listen to serious proposals,

but made clear

he will have little patience

for continuing distortions.


"Know this:

I will not waste time

with those who have made the calculation

that it's better politics to kill this plan

than to approve it.


I won't stand by

while the special interests use the same old tactics

to keep things exactly the way they are. "


At the same time, the president said

that rather than a radical shift

that would disrupt health care Americans now have,

he favors building on what works

and fixing what does not.


Dan Robinson, VOA News, Capitol Hill.