February 25, 2010 10:55 PM EST
President Barack Obama has given Democrats and Republicans up to six weeks deliver a health care reform bill for his signature, before considering more aggressive measures, possibly "reconciliation."
The comments came at the end of a health care summit that found Republicans opposed to Democrats' expansion of health care insurance to more individuals because of concerns over costs.
"Procedurally it could get done fairly quickly," Obama said, a reference to the "reconciliation" process, which would be used to merge health reform bills already passed by the House and Senate.
"We cannot have another year-long debate about this," Obama said.
At the beginning of the six-hour televised summit, Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander warned that Democrats should not try to push through a bill in that manner.
Republicans have said the process was meant to be used for provisions affecting taxes and spending, not wide-ranging reforms such as the current health reform proposals.
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The top Republican in the Senate, Mitch McConnell called the process "legislative sleight of hand."
Last updated 6:15 p.m.
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