Obama urges House to pass health care bill

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By Jennifer Haberkorn

President Obama came to Capitol Hill Saturday to urge Democrats to pass historic legislation to reform health care — and not get sidetracked by political problems.

Mr. Obama, in a rare Hill visit, spent five minutes talking about the shooting this week at the Fort Hood military base, in which 12 soldiers and one civilian were killed, reminding Democrats of "what real sacrifice is," said Rep. Rob Andrews of New Jersey, who attended the meeting.

"I think in a very moving way he reminded us what sacrifice really is," he said. "Sacrifice is not casting a vote that might lose an election for you. It is the sacrifice that someone makes when they were the uniform of this country and unfortunately a number of people made this week."

Mr. Andrews said the comments were respectful and not viewed as politicizing the shooting.

A number of moderate Democrats have been skittish to vote for the health care reform bill, with concerns over the cost of the legislation, whether it would allow for taxpayer-funded abortions or authorize illegal immigrants access to the insurance exchanges.

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Several have already come out against the legislation, prompting furious lobbying by House leaders to obtain the 218 votes necessary.

Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said earlier Saturday that he expected to be able to pass the bill.

Mr. Obama asked Democrats to come together to pass the bill, as they did on the Recovery Act and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

"You have met the call on every single challenge," a Democratic aide quoted the president as saying. "You did it without any help from the other side."

Despite the trouble rounding up votes, Mr. Obama expressed optimism that the bill would pass.

"I'm absolutely confident we will get this done and when I'm in the Rose Garden signing a piece of legislation to give health care to all Americans, we'll look back and say this was our finest moment."

• S.A. Miller contributed to this report.