美国总统电台演说 2009-06-13

　　美国总统电台演说 2009-06-13

　　Barack Obama

　　Weekly Address

　　Saturday, June 13, 2009

　　Last week, I spoke to you about my commitment to work with Congress to pass health care reform this year. Today, I'd like to speak about how that effort is essential to restoring fiscal responsibility.

　　When it comes to the cost of health care, this much is clear: the status quo is unsustainable for families, businesses, and government. America spends nearly 50 percent more per person on health care than any other country. Health care premiums have doubled over the last decade, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs have skyrocketed, and many with preexisting conditions are denied coverage. More and more, Americans are being priced out of the care they need.

　　These costs are also hurting business, as some big businesses are at a competitive disadvantage with their foreign counterparts, and some small businesses are forced to cut benefits, drop coverage, or even lay off workers. Meanwhile, Medicare and Medicaid pose one of the greatest threats to our federal deficit, and could leave our children with a mountain of debt that they cannot pay.