Full Transcript of Pelosi Press Conference on Health C...(a great deal of progress. I think we're ...),Health

As you get toward the end, when you're ready to introduce, and then you go to the markup and the amendment process, is when you get some of the differentiation

But, from those conversations, I feel very confident that we will have strong health care reform that will lower costs, improve quality, give people more peace of mind that -- recognizing that, if you don't have your health, you don't have anything.

Mr. Hoyer, would you like to speak to that?

Majority Leader Hoyer. Well, I just want to make one comment, I think. I agree with what the Speaker said, but I don't think there is -- you mentioned Blue Dogs in particular -- I think, to a person, the Blue Dogs believe that we need to pass, and they want to support, health care reform.

They know their people want health care reform. As the Speaker indicated, in the legislative process, you get down to the specifics of the hows, not the objective. Then there are obviously extensive and spirited discussions.

Those are occurring now. But I am absolutely confident that there is nobody with whom I've talked in the Caucus who doesn't believe that health care reform is essential for us to do and do this year.

Q: Can you get support for a big tax increase that is going to be included in this bill?

Majority Leader Hoyer. Well, we're discussing, obviously, the specifics, and there are a number of pay-fors in both houses on the table, and we're going to be discussing those further. But I want to emphasize that every Democrat that I've talked to in our Caucus believes that doing health care reform is essential: A, we promised we would do so; and B, as I said, it's an economic and moral imperative. A healthier America is a more success
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