President Obama Prepares For Health Care Reform Summit
In preparation for his upcoming bi-partisan summit on health care reform, the President released his proposals. On the table for the summit – addressing huge premium increases by insurance companies, such as California’s Anthem Blue Cross, which is planning a 39% premium hike.
Key Propos al s of the Obama Heal th Plan to be discussed at Summit:
1. Making health care affordable by “providing the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history, reducing premium costs for tens of millions of families and small business owners who are priced out of coverage today.”
2. Setting up a new health insurance market that encourages competition among providers and gives consumers more choices.
3. Bringing greater accountability to health care to prevent insurance company abuses.
4. Ending discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions.
5. Providing significant additional Federal financing to all States for the expansion of Medicaid.
6. Closing the Medicare prescription drug “donut hole” coverage gap.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
President Greets the Dalai Lama
Despite protests from the People’s Republic of China, the President met with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama in a private meeting at the White House. Obama praised the Dalai Lama’s commitment to non-violence, and encouraged a continuation of dialog among the Tibetans and the Chinese government. Obama told the Dalai Lama of "his strong support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural, and linguistic identity, and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People's Republic of China.”
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010
Obama Visits Nevada
The President visited Las Vegas – the city with the country’s highest foreclosure rate. He led a town hall meeting in Henderson and announced $1.5 billion in a new funding program to help homeowners in states that have been hard hit in the housing market. The five states to receive help are Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, and Nevada. Obama stated, “During these difficult economic times, we will work to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes and stabilize the housing market so home values can rise. This program will allow housing finance agencies in the places hardest-hit by the housing crisis find innovative ways to help homeowners stay afloat, and empower local agencies that know these communities best."
The First Lady Hosts British Students
First Lady Michelle Obama entertained British students, from schools across the London borough of Islington, in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House. The students were winners of the Islington Black History Month essay competition and read their winning essays to the First Lady. The U.S. Embassy in London sponsored the students. Mrs. Obama reminded the students: “President Obama didn't wake up to become who he is. It was a lot of practice early on, of getting things done. You're going to slip and fall and trip along the way.
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