Ohio - President Barack Obama conceded on Thursday that Congress will not meet his August deadline for passing healthcare reform bills, but said he wanted lawmakers to keep on working on the issue.

It was the first time he has said he wouldn't be troubled if the bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate didn't pass by the time Congress leaves on its August recess.

I want the bill to get out of the committees, Obama told a town hall meeting in Shaker Heights, Ohio. I want it done by the end of this year.

If the bills don't pass by August, he said, that's OK. I just want people to keep on working.

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