Obama “Flexible” On All But One Issue: Passing A Reform Bill

"President Obama urged lawmakers Wednesday to work through partisan differences that are threatening health care legislation" at a White House meeting, the Associated Press reports. Members of both parties, who in recent days have been increasingly divided over issues like the prospect of a public insurance plan, were upbeat about the meeting, according to the AP: "A senior Republican who recently criticized Obama also sounded positive. 'The president, I thought, was very flexible except on one thing, and that was getting it done,' said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. 'When the president is flexible on controversial things ... I think that that's good news.'"

Grassley recently criticized Obama over his public endorsement of controversial reform provisions and pressure he has exerted on Congress to move quickly (6/10).

In the meeting, Obama also put a time stamp on completing the legislation, saying they should overcome their differences to get a bill to the Senate floor by July, Politico reports. The senators, Max Baucus, D-Mont., Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Grassley, said they could meet that deadline (Parnes 6/11).