Title: President Obama praises Senate finance committee

" For the better part of the past year. A great debate has taken place in Washington and across America. About how to reform -- health care system to provide security for people with insurance coverage for those without insurance more cost for every. From the halls of congress to homes of ordinary Americans this debate has helped us to forge consensus and find common ground. That's good for what America's all about. Now as the debate draws to a close we can point to a broad and growing coalition doctors and nurses. Workers and businesses hospitals. And even drug companies. Folks who represent different parties and perspectives including leading Democrats -- many leading Republicans. Who recognize the urgency of action. Just this week the Senate Finance Committee approved a reform proposal that has both democratic and Republican support. For the first time ever all five committees in congress responsible for help reform has passed a version of legislation. Let's beat you today we are closer reforming health care system that we have ever been in history but this is not the time pat ourselves on the back. As about the time to grow complacent. There are still significant details and disagreements to be worked out in the coming weeks and they're still those who would try to kill reform at any cost. History is clear. For decades rising health care costs have unleashed havoc on families businesses and the economy. And for decades whenever we have tried to reform the system insurance companies have done everything in their considerable power to stop us. We know that this an action has carried a terrible toll. In the past decade premiums have doubled. Over the past few years total out of pocket costs for people with insurance rose -- And we know that we do not reform the system this will only be a preview of coming attractions. A new report for the business roundtable a nonpartisan group that represents the CEO's of major companies. Found that without significant reform health care costs for these employers and the employees. Well well more than double again over the next decade. The cost per person for health insurance will rise by about 18000. Dollars. A huge amount of money. That's gonna mean or salaries and higher unemployment. Or profits and higher roles of uninsured. It's no exaggeration to say -- unless we act these costs will devastate the US economy. This is the unsustainable path wore on -- the path insurers wanna keep us off. In fact insurance industry is rolling up guns and breaking up their massive war chest. The Marshal their forces for one last fight to save the status quo. They're filling the airwaves -- deceptive and dishonest ads the flooding Capitol Hill lobbyists and campaign contributions. And there funding studies designed to mislead the American people. Of course like clockwork we've seen folks on cable television who know better waving these industry funded studies in the -- We've seen industry insiders and their apologists citing these studies as proof of claims that just aren't true. So claimed the premiums will go up under reform. But they know the the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Found that reforms will lower premiums in a new insurance exchange while offering consumer protections. That will limit out of pocket costs and prevent discrimination based on preexisting conditions. Don't claim that you'll have to pay more out of pocket. But they know that this is based on a study that willfully ignores whole sections of the bill. Including tax credits and cost savings that will greatly benefit middle class families. -- the authors of one of these studies have now admitted publicly. That the insurance companies actually ask them to do -- complete job. It's smoke and mirrors it's bogus it's all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform insurance companies produce these following studies as prescription and say take one of these and Collison decade. Well not this time. The fact is the insurance industry is making this last ditch effort to stop perform. Even as -- continue to rise and health care dollars continue to be ported of their profits bonuses and administrative costs that do nothing to make a Celtic. But often actually go toward figuring out how to avoid covering people. And they're earning these profits and bonuses while enjoying a privileged exception for more anti trust laws a matter of congress is rightfully review. Now I welcome good debate. I welcome the chance to defend our proposals and to test our ideas in the fires of this democracy. What I will not abide those would bend the truth or break it to score political points and stop our progress as a country. And what we almost oppose of the same old cynical Washington games have been played for decades even as our problems have grown -- our challenges have mild to. Last November the American people went to the polls in historic numbers and demanded change. Wanted to change our policies. But they also sought to change our politics. Politics for -- office on -- of lobbyists and special interest that's -- division of sustain the status well. Passing health insurance reform is a great test of this proposition. Yes it will make a profound and positive difference in the lives of the American people. But it also now represents something more. Whether or not we as a nation are capable of tackling our toughest challenges. If we conserve the national interest despite unrelenting efforts of the special interests. If we can still do big things in America. I believe we can I believe we will. I urge every member of congress to stand against the power plays and political -- And to stand up on behalf of the American people who sentenced to Washington to do their business. Thanks."