Obama to Hold Health Care Roundtable Monday
President Barack Obama will hold a “roundtable— with health care providers Monday afternoon at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington. The event will be followed by a statement by Obama to the press on health care reform.The appearance is part of what is becoming a near-daily drumbeat of messages on health care by Obama, who is pressing Congress to pass a health care overhaul before it adjourns for the August recess. The president last week held a series of meetings on the matter with lawmakers and then Friday appeared suddenly at the White House to push for legislation. Obama’s Saturday weekly address was devoted to encouraging supporters to back his views on health reform.On Thursday, the president will travel to Cleveland to talk health reform. Additional health-related events and meetings with lawmakers this week are also a strong possibility.Obama also will meet Monday afternoon with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). The session will include Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints President Thomas Monson. Reid is a Mormon.On Thursday, after his health event in Cleveland, Obama will travel to Chicago for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser.Obama’s top advisers spent Sunday hitting the talk show circuit to tout his plans for a health care overhaul. Obama has said he wants the House and Senate to clear legislation by the August break, but administration officials — including Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag — suggested Sunday that the administration may be flexible on the timeline.