"When it comes to health care, the status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable," said Mr. Obama. "So reform is not a luxury, it's a necessity."

The President also smacked down a letter sent by Blue Cross Blue Shield and an insurance industry group, which argued forcefully against the idea of a public government health care option.

"If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care, if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government -- which they say can't run anything -- suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That's not logical," the President said flatly.

Meanwhile on the insurance industry side, the message was basically, take this bill and put it where the health benefits don't shine.

"A government-run plan - no matter how it is initially structured - would dismantle employer-based coverage, significantly increase costs for those who remain in private coverage, and add additional liabilities to the federal budget," said the industry letter to key Senators.

While the President expressed his support for reform, a Senate committee entered a sixth day of public work to draft a health reform measure.

Once again, it was very slow going, and once again Democrats did not unveil the details of the government option and more that will fill several blank sections of the Senate bill.

Meanwhile, a small bipartisan group of Senators continues to meet as well, searching for a way to bridge the gaps between members of both parties who want a health reform deal.

They suffered a setback last week when the Congressional Budget Office found their plan cost $1.6 trillion, forcing the Senate Finance Committee to delay work on a final bill until next month.

Finance Chair Sen. Max Baucus told reporters that the group is still trying to reach a deal and that this bill "will be ready when its ready." In other words, think July.

Baucus also said his group is focused on a cost of around $1 trillion, which is still a lot for many Democrats to stomach, but better than $1.6 trillion.

So have you found anything interesting in the House or Senate health care bills? Why not? You know you have some time to read a few pages instead of playing Solitaire yet again.

Here is a link to the House bill - http://bit.ly/yxwgL

and to the Senate bill - http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf

Get cracking, dammit.