WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Saturday praised a compromise that cleared the way for U.S. Senate passage of a sweeping healthcare overhaul, his top legislative priority.
'Today is a major step forward for the American people,' he said of the deal with the last holdout, Democratic Senator Ben Nelson. 'After a nearly century-long struggle we are on the cusp of making healthcare reform a reality in the United States of America.'
(Reporting by John Whitesides, editing by Eric Beech) Keywords: USA HEALTHCARE/OBAMA (john.whitesides@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202-898-8300; Reuters Messaging: john.whitesides.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
'Today is a major step forward for the American people,' he said of the deal with the last holdout, Democratic Senator Ben Nelson. 'After a nearly century-long struggle we are on the cusp of making healthcare reform a reality in the United States of America.'
(Reporting by John Whitesides, editing by Eric Beech) Keywords: USA HEALTHCARE/OBAMA (john.whitesides@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202-898-8300; Reuters Messaging: john.whitesides.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.