Obama_NN1 Insists_VVZ That_DD1 Insurance_NN1 Will_VM Be_VBI Affordable_JJ WASHINGTON_NP1 --_NN1 President_NNB Obama_NP1 on_II Sunday_NPD1 pushed_VVD back_RP against_II the_AT argument_NN1 from_II liberal_JJ Democrats_NN2 that_CST the_AT leading_JJ health_NN1 care_NN1 bill_NN1 in_II the_AT Senate_NN1 would_VM place_VVI a_AT1 new_JJ financial_JJ burden_NN1 on_II the_AT middle_JJ class_NN1 ,_, saying_VVG in_II a_AT1 series_NN of_IO television_NN1 appearances_NN2 that_CST insurance_NN1 would_VM be_VBI made_VVN affordable_JJ through_II a_AT1 competitive_JJ exchange_NN1 and_CC subsidies_NN2 ._. 
As_II the_AT Senate_NN1 Finance_NN1 Committee_NN1 prepares_VVZ to_TO take_VVI up_RP the_AT legislation_NN1 this_DD1 week_NNT1 ,_, the_AT White_NP1 House_NN1 is_VBZ trying_VVG to_TO hold_VVI together_RL fractious_JJ Democrats_NN2 ,_, particularly_RR those_DD2 who_PNQS believe_VV0 that_CST the_AT plan_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX generous_JJ enough_RR for_IF people_NN required_VVN to_TO buy_VVI insurance_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 argued_VVD that_CST the_AT proposal_NN1 was_VBDZ not_XX a_AT1 bad_JJ deal_NN1 for_IF the_AT middle_JJ class_NN1 and_CC that_CST it_PPH1 could_VM not_XX be_VBI called_VVN a_AT1 tax_NN1 hike_NN1 ._. 
"_" Right_RR now_RT ,_, everybody_PN1 in_II America_NP1 ,_, just_RR21 about_RR22 ,_, has_VHZ to_TO get_VVI auto_NN1 insurance_NN1 ,_, "_" Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 said_VVD on_II "_" This_DD1 Week_NNT1 with_IW George_NP1 Stephanopoulos_NP2 "_" on_II ABC_NP1 ._. 
"_" Nobody_PN1 considers_VVZ that_CST a_AT1 tax_NN1 increase_NN1 ._. "_" 
The_AT interviews_NN2 ,_, conducted_VVD Friday_NPD1 in_II the_AT Roosevelt_NP1 Room_NN1 of_IO the_AT White_NP1 House_NN1 and_CC broadcast_VVN on_II news_NN1 programs_NN2 ,_, represented_VVD the_AT first_MD saturation_NN1 of_IO the_AT Sunday_NPD1 morning_NNT1 airwaves_NN2 to_II that_DD1 extent_NN1 by_II a_AT1 president_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 said_VVD the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 fight_NN1 was_VBDZ tougher_JJR than_CSN he_PPHS1 had_VHD expected_VVN and_CC conceded_VVN that_CST he_PPHS1 had_VHD struggled_VVN in_II "_" breaking_VVG through_RP ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 remained_VVD confident_JJ that_CST he_PPHS1 would_VM sign_VVI a_AT1 bill_NN1 and_CC welcomed_VVD Republicans_NN2 to_II the_AT effort_NN1 ,_, but_CCB added_VVD ,_, "_" I_PPIS1 do_VD0 n't_XX count_VVI on_II them_PPHO2 ._. "_" 
The_AT argument_NN1 over_II the_AT affordability_NN1 of_IO insurance_NN1 is_VBZ one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT pressing_JJ points_NN2 of_IO contention_NN1 in_II imposing_VVG a_AT1 mandate_NN1 for_IF people_NN to_TO obtain_VVI coverage_NN1 ._. 
Since_CS the_AT presidential_JJ race_NN1 last_MD year_NNT1 ,_, many_DA2 Democrats_NN2 have_VH0 braced_VVN for_IF this_DD1 treacherous_JJ debate_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ goes_VVZ beyond_II whether_CSW the_AT insurance_NN1 mandate_NN1 should_VM be_VBI called_VVN a_AT1 tax_NN1 increase_NN1 to_II whether_CSW people_NN might_VM actually_RR have_VHI to_TO pay_VVI more_RRR for_IF their_APPGE coverage_NN1 ._. 
The_AT president_NN1 did_VDD not_XX fully_RR endorse_VVI a_AT1 proposal_NN1 by_II Senator_NNB Max_NP1 Baucus_NP1 ,_, Democrat_NN1 of_IO Montana_NP1 and_CC the_AT chairman_NN1 of_IO the_AT Finance_NN1 Committee_NN1 ,_, but_CCB called_VVD it_PPH1 "_" a_AT1 serious_JJ ,_, strong_JJ effort_NN1 to_TO move_VVI an_AT1 agenda_NN1 forward_RL ._. "_" 
Under_II the_AT measure_NN1 ,_, the_AT government_NN1 would_VM provide_VVI subsidies_NN2 --_NN1 in_II the_AT form_NN1 of_IO tax_NN1 credits_VVZ --_JJ to_TO help_VVI people_NN buy_VVI coverage_NN1 through_II new_JJ insurance_NN1 exchanges_NN2 ._. 
The_AT Baucus_NN1 plan_NN1 ,_, like_II the_AT other_JJ health_NN1 care_NN1 bills_NN2 in_II Congress_NN1 ,_, offers_VVZ subsidies_NN2 to_TO help_VVI low-_JJ and_CC middle-income_JJ Americans_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB eligibility_NN1 is_VBZ more_RGR limited_JJ ,_, and_CC the_AT subsidies_NN2 appear_VV0 to_TO be_VBI less_RGR generous_JJ than_CSN in_II the_AT other_JJ proposals_NN2 ,_, leading_VVG some_DD Democrats_NN2 to_TO question_VVI whether_CSW some_DD people_NN would_VM be_VBI able_JK to_TO afford_VVI insurance_NN1 ._. 
The_AT subsidies_NN2 are_VBR the_AT biggest_JJT single_JJ cost_NN1 in_II the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 proposals_NN2 ._. 
In_II the_AT Baucus_NN1 bill_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ $463_NNU billion_NNO over_RG 10_MC years_NNT2 ;_; the_AT cost_NN1 is_VBZ $773_NNU billion_NNO in_II the_AT House_NN1 bill_NN1 ._. 
The_AT House_NN1 plan_NN1 costs_VVZ more_RRR ,_, in_RR21 part_RR22 ,_, because_CS it_PPH1 provides_VVZ more_RGR generous_JJ subsidies_NN2 ._. 
One_MC1 question_NN1 stands_VVZ out_RP above_II most_DAT others_NN2 in_II the_AT debate_NN1 :_: What_DDQ is_VBZ affordable_JJ ?_? 
People_NN with_IW incomes_NN2 from_II 300_MC percent_NNU to_II 400_MC percent_NNU of_IO the_AT federal_JJ poverty_NN1 line_NN1 --_NN1 $66,150_NNU to_II $88,200_NNU for_IF a_AT1 family_NN1 of_IO four_MC --_NN1 might_VM be_VBI expected_VVN to_TO pay_VVI 11_MC percent_NNU to_II 13_MC percent_NNU of_IO their_APPGE income_NN1 on_II insurance_NN1 premiums_NN2 ,_, the_AT legislation_NN1 in_II Congress_NN1 suggests_VVZ ._. 
The_AT Baucus_NN1 plan_NN1 would_VM also_RR require_VVI people_NN to_TO have_VHI insurance_NN1 ,_, with_IW penalties_NN2 as_RG high_JJ as_CSA $3,800_NNU for_IF a_AT1 family_NN1 that_CST goes_VVZ without_IW coverage_NN1 ._. 
Senator_NNB Charles_NP1 E._NP1 Schumer_NN1 of_IO New_NP1 York_NP1 and_CC other_JJ Democrats_NN2 have_VH0 proposed_VVN waiving_VVG penalties_NN2 for_IF people_NN who_PNQS can_VM not_XX find_VVI plans_NN2 that_CST cost_VV0 less_DAR than_CSN 7_MC percent_NNU of_IO their_APPGE income_NN1 ._. 
As_II the_AT administration_NN1 is_VBZ seeking_VVG to_TO reconcile_VVI competing_JJ versions_NN2 of_IO the_AT health_NN1 care_NN1 bills_NN2 ,_, Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 avoided_VVD specific_JJ figures_NN2 and_CC did_VDD not_XX tip_VVI his_APPGE hand_NN1 about_II what_DDQ he_PPHS1 believed_VVD was_VBDZ an_AT1 appropriate_JJ level_NN1 for_IF subsidies_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB he_PPHS1 said_VVD rising_VVG health_NN1 care_NN1 costs_VVZ already_RR amounted_VVD to_II a_AT1 tax_NN1 increase_NN1 on_II families_NN2 ._. 
As_CSA he_PPHS1 did_VDD in_II his_APPGE health_NN1 care_NN1 speech_NN1 to_II Congress_NN1 on_II Sept._NPM1 9_MC ,_, the_AT president_NN1 spoke_VVD favorably_RR on_II Sunday_NPD1 about_II a_AT1 public_JJ insurance_NN1 option_NN1 to_TO inject_VVI competition_NN1 into_II the_AT market_NN1 ,_, but_CCB he_PPHS1 did_VDD not_XX call_VVI it_PPH1 essential_JJ ._. 
He_PPHS1 urged_VVD "_" folks_NN2 in_II my_APPGE own_DA party_NN1 "_" to_TO move_VVI beyond_II that_DD1 debate_NN1 and_CC focus_VVI on_II broader_JJR aspects_NN2 of_IO the_AT effort_NN1 ._. 
"_" Everybody_PN1 's_VBZ going_VVGK to_TO have_VHI to_TO give_VVI some_DD in_BCL21 order_BCL22 to_TO get_VVI something_PN1 done_VDN ,_, "_" Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 said_VVD on_II the_AT NBC_NP1 program_NN1 "_" Meet_VV0 the_AT Press_NN1 ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 added_VVD ,_, "_" We_PPIS2 've_VH0 got_VVN to_TO get_VVI past_II some_DD of_IO these_DD2 ideological_JJ arguments_NN2 to_TO actually_RR make_VVI something_PN1 happen_VV0 ._. "_" 
Senator_NNB Mitch_NP1 McConnell_NP1 of_IO Kentucky_NP1 ,_, the_AT Republican_NN1 leader_NN1 ,_, predicted_VVD that_CST there_EX would_VM be_VBI consequences_NN2 for_IF the_AT Democrats_NN2 if_CS they_PPHS2 pushed_VVD a_AT1 measure_NN1 through_II Congress_NN1 without_IW bipartisan_JJ support_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD the_AT current_JJ plan_NN1 would_VM raise_VVI taxes_NN2 on_II small_JJ businesses_NN2 and_CC individuals_NN2 and_CC would_VM affect_VVI Medicare_NP1 coverage_NN1 ._. 
"_" If_CS they_PPHS2 try_VV0 to_TO use_VVI this_DD1 legislative_JJ loophole_NN1 called_VVN reconciliation_NN1 ,_, what_DDQ they_PPHS2 'll_VM be_VBI doing_VDG ,_, in_II effect_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ jamming_VVG through_II a_AT1 proposal_NN1 to_TO rewrite_VVI the_AT economy_NN1 with_IW about_RG 24_MC hours_NNT2 of_IO debate_NN1 ,_, "_" Mr._NNB McConnell_NP1 said_VVD on_II "_" State_NN1 of_IO the_AT Union_NN1 "_" on_II CNN_NP1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 think_VV0 that_DD1 will_VM produce_VVI a_AT1 very_RG severe_JJ reaction_NN1 among_II the_AT American_JJ people_NN ._. "_" 
Yet_RR Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 's_GE television_NN1 appearances_NN2 across_II the_AT spectrum_NN1 of_IO channels_NN2 on_II Sunday_NPD1 underscored_VVD his_APPGE decision_NN1 to_TO move_VVI forward_RL on_II health_NN1 care_NN1 with_IW --_JJ or_CC ,_, more_RGR likely_JJ ,_, without_IW --_JJ Republicans_NN2 ._. 
"_" What_DDQ I_PPIS1 'm_VBM trying_VVG to_TO do_VDI is_VBZ explain_VVI the_AT facts_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ are_VBR if_CS we_PPIS2 do_VD0 n't_XX do_VDI anything_PN1 ,_, a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO Americans_NN2 are_VBR going_VVGK to_TO be_VBI much_RR worse_RRR off_RP ,_, "_" Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 said_VVD on_II "_" Face_NN1 the_AT Nation_NN1 "_" on_II CBS_NP1 ._. 
The_AT only_JJ major_JJ news_NN1 program_NN1 that_CST he_PPHS1 did_VDD not_XX appear_VVI on_RP was_VBDZ "_" Fox_NP1 News_NN1 Sunday_NPD1 ,_, "_" a_AT1 decision_NN1 that_CST administration_NN1 officials_NN2 said_VVD was_VBDZ made_VVN because_CS the_AT network_NN1 did_VDD not_XX broadcast_VVI his_APPGE speech_NN1 to_II Congress_NN1 this_DD1 month_NNT1 ._. 
Instead_RR ,_, Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 spoke_VVD to_II Univision_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 Spanish-language_JJ channel_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 reaffirmed_VVD the_AT administration_NN1 's_GE position_NN1 that_CST illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 should_VM not_XX have_VHI access_NN1 to_II the_AT proposed_JJ insurance_NN1 exchanges_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ sensitive_JJ to_II the_AT problems_NN2 of_IO "_" mixed_JJ families_NN2 ,_, "_" in_II which_DDQ the_AT parents_NN2 are_VBR illegal_JJ immigrants_NN2 but_CCB the_AT children_NN2 are_VBR American_JJ citizens_NN2 born_VVN in_II this_DD1 country_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 're_VBR going_VVGK to_TO make_VVI sure_JJ that_CST those_DD2 children_NN2 are_VBR covered_VVN ,_, "_" Mr._NNB Obama_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
