Obama Vows to Pass Health Reform

Citing support from business and health industry groups, President Obama makes clear that he intends to push a reform bill through this year, according to excerpts of the president's speech tonight.

"Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors’ groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past," the president says. "And there is agreement in this chamber on about 80 percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been."

In his speech, the president highlights the idea of a health insurance exchange in which private insurers would compete for business. Individuals and small businesses would join the exchange and be grouped together to create an insurance pool to obtain better rates. And he called for reforms that prevent insurers from denying or dropping coverage of sick people.

Even though he reaches out to the GOP, Obama seems intent on pushing a bill through with or without Republican support.

"I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it," Obama says. "I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now."