Should health care companies pay to reform the system?

As the most visible signs of strain on the financial system have eased, President Barack Obama has turned his focus to more long-term matters, chief among them reforming the nation's health care system. The topic was the focus of his most recent weekend radio address, where he said "the status quo is unsustainable for families, businesses, and government."

According to a fact sheet issued by the White House, the administration proposes to find more than $300 billion in new savings on Medicare and Medicaid over the next decade through methods such as negotiating better prices on Medicare Part D drugs. The release praised the pharmaceutical industry for its dialogue on the issue so far, which Obama said would see "drug makers pay their fair share, [so] we can cut government spending on prescription drugs."