White House Invites Congressional Leaders to Health Care Summit

Yesterday the White House issued formal invitations to Democratic and Republican congressional leaders to attend a health care summit at Blair House moderated by him on February 25. The letter, which you can read here, was issued over the signatures of Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The event will be televised in its entirety. The letter encouraged both sides to post comprehensive legislation online prior to the event:

"Since this meeting will be most productive if information is widely available before the meeting, we will post online the text of a proposed health insurance reform package. This legislation would put a stop to insurance company abuses, extend coverage to millions of Americans, get control of skyrocketing premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and reduce the deficit. It is the President’s hope that the Republican congressional leadership will also put forward their own comprehensive bill to achieve those goals and make it available online as well."

Republicans are wary. They've suggested that the only way to have bipartisanship is to scrap the bills the have been passed in the House and Senate, and that they may not participate if this is not done. You can read more about the proposed summit from the Washington Post here.