The Associated Press/Washington Post reports on Republicans' "chilly reception Monday to President Barack Obama's invitation to discuss health care in a bipartisan, televised setting later this month, part of the White House effort to revive the stalled legislation."
Obama's move to welcome GOP and Democratic leaders to discuss health care compromises in a half-day gathering on February 25 "comes amid widespread complaints that Democrats' efforts so far have been too partisan and secretive." Though Republican leaders have "insisted on starting from scratch … many Democrats want to use their party's remaining parliamentary muscle to enact their plans with as few changes as possible" (Babington, 2/8).
The New York Times Prescriptions Blog: "One big question about President Obama's bipartisan health care summit … is whether American voters will really get a full and open competition of ideas and emerge with a clearer sense of whether they support or oppose the various proposals put forward by Republicans or Democrats."
As part of the health summit, Obama "can insist that Republicans show how they would extend insurance coverage to more than 30 million people over the next 10 years. But he also must have an answer if Republicans say the country cannot afford the expense. The bigger challenge will be getting past the same old talking points that Democrats and Republicans have been harping on for months and providing plain-spoken explanations to the American people about what various policy proposals would or would not accomplish, who they would help or hurt, and how much they will cost" (Herszenhorn, 2/8).
The Hill's Congress Blog includes reactions of several political commentators, legislators and experts to the news of the bipartisan health summit (Moore, 2/8).