Thompson, Obama talk health care reform

Eureka Times Standard

North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson and other members of the House Committee on Ways and Means spent Tuesday meeting with President Barack Obama.

According to a press release from Thompson's office, the committee members discussed the upcoming legislative agenda with the president, updating him on their continuing efforts to reform America's health care system to reduce costs and protect current coverage.

”We need to act quickly to make sure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care,” Thompson said in the release. “The system is clearly broken, and we need to create real reforms that will assure health care for all, while cutting costs and streamlining our health care system.

”After today's meeting,” Thompson continued, “I'm more sure than ever that the president and I share a basic commitment to building upon what works in our health care system and fixing what is broken by providing a public option to bring true competitiveness to the health care market.”

Earlier in the day, Thompson joined in a discussion of health care reform with his colleagues in the house Democratic Caucus, and talked about the basic framework for reform and how to reduce costs, protect coverage and preserve the choice of doctors to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health care.