WASHINGTON — In a make- or-break move, President Barack Obama on Friday challenged three dozen Republicans and Democrats to participate in a one-of-its-kind televised health care summit this month to thrash out a deal to overhaul the nation’s system.
Republicans greeted the invite to the unusual Feb. 25 event with derision, casting doubt on whether it would yield any bipartisan agreement to extend coverage to millions of Americans and rein in medical costs. House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio questioned the makeup of the guest list and continued closed-door Democratic negotiations to produce a final bill.
“Are they willing to start over with a blank sheet of paper? We need answers before we know if the White House is more interested in partisan theater than in facilitating a productive dialogue about solutions,” said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Boehner.
The summit is considered a last, best attempt to revive what was once Obama’s top domestic priority, now stalled after Democrats lost their filibuster-proof Senate majority.
The White House named 21 lawmakers the president wants to attend the Feb. 25 event: the top leaders in the House and Senate and of the committees with jurisdiction over the health legislation. Obama also invited the top four leaders to invite four more lawmakers each, bringing the total to 37 — 20 Democrats and 17 Republicans.
At the summit, Obama will offer opening remarks, followed by comments from a Republican leader and a Democratic leader, according to Friday’s letter. Obama will then moderate a discussion on four topics: insurance reforms, cost containment, expanding coverage and the impact of health legislation on the deficit.
