Obama challenges lobbyists to duel

President Barack Obama is challenging the nation’s vested interests to a legislative duel.
   
In his weekend media chat, he says he’ll fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo. For instance, the president says insurance companies will dislike having “to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage,“ but he says that would help preserve and
protect Medicare and lower health care costs.
   
Obama says his ambitious budget plan will help millions of people, but only if Congress overcomes resistance from deep-pocketed lobbies.
   
Obama is also promoting his economic proposals in a video message to a group meeting in Los Angeles on “the state of the black union.“ In remarks the White House has released in advance, he says, “We have done more in these past 30 days to bring about progressive change than we have in the past many years.“ He goes on to say, quote, “We are closing the gap between the nation we are and the nation we can be by implementing policies that will speed our recovery and build a foundation for lasting prosperity and opportunity.“