President to address joint session of Congress

President Obama will address a joint session of Congress next week about health care reform. The last joint session of Congress to which a President spoke was Sept. 20, 2001, when President Bush discussed the 9/11 attacks. The one before that was President Clinton, 16 Septembers ago, talking about health care reform. The President has laid back and let Congress 'lead the way' (quotes indeed) but he will now have to lay out what he wants. There may actually be an "Obamacare" for the Republicans to oppose a week from now! Exactly what will be in the bill is being debated within the White House, apparently.

Grassley and Enzi are gone (may never been there), but Olympia Snowe will essentially write the bill along with Barack Obama if she wants to do so.

Good article on malpractice, describing the fact that cost savings from defensive medicine are likley to be modest. I agree, but think that politically, and to get the docs to come along, malpractice reform is important. I have a hunch the President will surprise folks and offer a serious reform next week.