Wall Street Journal: Obama Shifts on Coverage Mandate

From The Wall Street Journal: President Barack Obama said he is open to requiring nearly all Americans to have health insurance, clearing one hurdle in Congress's effort to draft a health-care bill.

During his presidential campaign last year, Mr. Obama opposed then-Sen. Hillary Clinton's idea of a health-insurance mandate on individuals. He argued it would put too much burden on low-income families.

But in a letter to two top Democratic senators released Wednesday, the president said he understood that two Senate committees are moving toward mandating that individuals have health coverage and that employers help pay to provide it. "I share the goal of ending lapses and gaps in coverage that make us less healthy and drive up everyone's costs, and I am open to your ideas on shared responsibility," the letter said.

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