Obama Praises 'Critical Milestone' of Baucus Bill

President Obama called today's passage of legislation by a key Senate committee "a critical milestone" toward getting a health care overhaul this year, but said "now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back." Obama spoke in the Rose Garden about two hours after the Senate Finance Committee approved its version of reform. Obama praised the bill but didn't endorse it over the others that have passed other committees.

With the versions now needing to be merged, Obama cautioned against premature celebrating. He said "we are now closer than ever before" to overhauling the nation's health care system, but added that "now is the time to dig in and work even harder." (More President Obama stories.)