Readout of the President's Meeting With House Ways and Means Committee Democrats

The President had a productive meeting with Democrats from the House Ways and Means Committee, in which they agreed that health reform legislation must lower costs and expand coverage and must not add to the deficit. The President told the members that he will be spelling out additional savings for Medicare and Medicaid soon. He reiterated his support for his revenue-raising proposal, which would return the itemized deduction rate for the wealthiest Americans back to what it was when Ronald Reagan was President. The President and the members discussed some of the important components of reforming America's health care system, such as emphasizing primary care, prevention and wellness. They agreed to aim for a timetable in which final passage of the bill would take place in October.