Obama extolls health bill's deficit reduction help (AP)

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says his health care overhaul would be the most significant effort to reduce the nation's deficit since the balanced budget act of the 1990s.

Democratic leaders say the health care bill being considered on Capitol Hill is estimated to reduce the federal deficit by more than $130 billion over its first 10 years, and $1.2 trillion in the second decade. Obama urged lawmakers to consider those figures as they prepare to vote on the bill. The president said the reform would also bring accountability to the insurance industry and bring greater economic security to all Americans. Democrats say they are on track to hold that vote on Sunday, the same day Obama is scheduled to leave for a trip to Australia and Indonesia.

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