President Barack Obama held a press conference Wednesday outlining his plans on health care reform that has stalled in Congress.  As was predicted, the president asked Congress to schedule a final “up-or-down” vote on health care reform legislation and took it a step further by adding his endorsement of using the budget reconciliation process to finish the process.

“I believe the United States Congress owes the American people a final vote on health care reform,” Obama said.  He continued by mentioning a myriad of other bills that were passed with a simple majority rather than the currently required “super-majority” of 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass legislation.

The Democrats held onto a 60 vote majority until the election of Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts.

Republican lawmakers insist that using the reconciliation procedure would cause outrage in the public and further the intense partisan gridlock facing the Congress.  Regardless, Obama requested that Congress take action in the next few weeks.  The president also highlighted the Republican ideas that he has agreed to include in his proposal and again told Republicans that starting over is not an option.

IHA will continue to monitor the process along with the new budget numbers and coverage estimates that result from the president’s new proposal.