In what is being seen as the President’s last ditch effort to attract Republican support for healthcare reform, Thursday’s bi-partisan summit at Blair House, Washington D.C. seems to have ended with yet another stalemate, as Republicans stood their ground in opposition of the healthcare reform bills.

As President Barack Obama wrapped up the meeting, he said, “Politically speaking, there may not be any reason for Republicans to want to do anything… But, I thought it was worthwhile for us to make this effort.”

Following the six and three-quarter hour summit, the president highlighted the points that both parties agree on, such as the need for insurance market reforms (although there are some disagreements over the specifics) and the goals of a healthcare exchange. But the meeting still ended with Republicans firmly opposed to the current bill, despite that many of their ideas and suggestions, including purchasing coverage across state lines, were included.

However, the question Obama asked is whether after the summit there will be enough serious effort that in a month, a few weeks or six weeks’ time a bill could be decided on. He said if there can’t be agreement then, “We've got to go ahead and make some decisions.”

The most contentious issue, according to the president, is not only how to provide coverage for those who don't have it, but also how to provide coverage for people who have pre-existing conditions and are being priced out of the market.

Republicans came prepared

It was obvious that the Republicans came to the meeting mindful of their experience with a very aggressive President Obama at the Republican caucus last month. Their comments on their version of healthcare reform and criticism of the Democrats’ draft legislations were well prepared. The summit was spent primarily with Republicans criticizing the Democrats’ House and Senate Bills, while Democrats defended the bills and the need for urgent reform.

When the president opened the summit, he called the lack of healthcare reform “one of the biggest drags on the economy” and said it was getting worse. He urged Congressional representatives to not focus on where they differ, but on where they agree.

But Republicans had one main thrust and that is to scrap the bill and start from scratch.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said Republicans want to focus on healthcare costs, but urged the president and Democrats to scrap current legislation and “start over”.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded that for uninsured Americans there is “no time for us to start over”.

Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa made an impassioned plea for the passage of healthcare reform, referring to the lack of healthcare insurance as a system of segregation, saying although racial segregation is outlawed, “we still allow segregation today on the basis of your health”.

Several students watching the debate at FIU campus in South Miami saw the summit as an opportunity to show that the president is hands on with healthcare reform, but do not believe much will be accomplished in the summit. Many called it pure “political drama” – something that the president said he hoped would not happen.

With or without them

According to Democrats appearing on CNN after the Summit, the new goal is to pass final healthcare legislation by the end of March, largely based on the White House plan released earlier this week to extend coverage to over 31 million Americans. This plan does not include the controversial ‘public option’ included in the House Bill. This is seen as an effort to appease moderate Democrats opposed to the public option.

Without their filibuster proof majority, it’s speculated that the Democrats will seek approval of the bill through reconciliation, requiring a 51 majority vote in the Senate to get the bill passed.

Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, cautioned that the political consequences would be severe if Democrats approved the bill without Republican support. But, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, pointed out that reconciliation has been used more than 20 times since 1981, mostly by Republicans.