December 7th, 2009

Philadelphia Inq reports:

WASHINGTON – Casting health-care overhaul as a legacy to benefit the American people and failure as politically unthinkable, President Obama yesterday rallied Senate Democrats to deliver on their party’s half-century quest to expand the social safety net to include access for all.

At the Capitol during a rare Sunday session of the Senate, Obama delivered a closed-door pep talk, lasting about 45 minutes, to the fractious Democratic caucus.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) said senators were moved to “deep reflection, and even some tears.”

“He talked about how this would be a legacy, that each of us could look back to having been part of, 10 or 20 years from now,” said Sen. Kent Conrad (D., N.D.), a fiscal conservative. “All the things that we hope to achieve are – at least in part – in this package.”

Deep divisions remain in the party over abortion coverage, but there was hope for compromise on whether the government should offer health insurance in competition with private companies.

Click here to read full article