WASHINGTON (CNN)  -- The struggle over health care reform intensified Thursday as President Obama sought to build on what administration officials hoped was new momentum generated by his prime-time address to Congress.



In his address to Congress on Wednesday, President Obama pushed for the government to help the uninsured.



Republican leaders ripped the president's Wednesday night speech, arguing that he had botched a unique opportunity to build bipartisan consensus and offer specifics on his long-awaited plan.



"Now is the time to act," Obama told an audience near the White House. "We have talked this issue to death. ... The time for talk is winding down. The time for bickering is past."



The president was joined by representatives of the American Nurses Association, which has strongly endorsed the passage of a healthcare bill incorporating the president's ideas.



Obama repeated several reform principles outlined in his Wednesday night address, including the need for all Americans to have access to coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions.



He again insisted that his plan will provide "more security and stability to those who have insurance," extend it to those who don't and slow the rate of growth in health care costs.



He reiterated his call to cap out-of-pocket costs and create a health insurance exchange in which individuals and small businesses can pool resources to help bargain for lower coverage costs. iReport.com: "Obama's speech lacked courage"



Obama has also pushed for the federal government to provide greater financial assistance to those who can't afford insurance.



The president's latest call for reform came as the Census Bureau released new data showing that the number of people without health insurance rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.3 million in 2008.



All Americans would be required by law to have health insurance under Obama's proposal, which the administration has projected to cost $900 billion over 10 years. The requirement, Obama noted Wednesday night, would be similar to mandatory auto insurance in most states. Businesses would also be required to either offer health care coverage to workers or contribute to covering their costs of obtaining coverage.  CNN's political analysts respond to Obama's speech »



Top congressional Republicans declared Thursday that they remain staunchly opposed to Obama's plan. They also accused the president of delivering an intensely partisan speech to Congress that unfairly maligned opponents and distorted basic facts.



"I thought the speech was partisan, uninformative, disingenuous and not likely to encourage those who have honest disagreements with him to be able to work toward some kind of common solution," said Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, R-Arizona.



Kyl complained that Obama had made it tougher to reach common ground by constantly referring to opponents' "unyielding ideological" arguments and "bogus claims."



"Nobody can have a disagreement with him based upon a valid difference of opinion," Kyl said. "It's always the other -- the motive of the other individual is a bogus motive."



Among other things, Kyl disputed Obama's claims that the Democratic plan won't add to the federal deficit.



"He wasn't referring to either the House or Senate bill that have gone through committee, because [the Congressional Budget Office] has projected that both of them have a deficit," he said. "So somehow there's going to be a different bill, which is going to solve that deficit problem, I gather, but we didn't hear any detail about that."



Health care legislation has cleared three committees in the House of Representatives, as well as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. It is currently under consideration by the Senate Finance Committee.



Kyl also took issue with Obama's claim that people will have the option of keeping their current coverage if they like it.



"It's not true under the bills. Even if you like your insurance, there's a good chance you won't be able to keep it," Kyl claimed.



Democrats and Republicans remain deeply divided over the question of whether to allow for a government-run public health insurance option.
What do Republicans say? Where was the president while talking? What did the President say near the White House? Who is calling for a legislation this year? What did he follow up with Congress with a call for? Who are saying Obama is missing opportunities? What does new data show? What did republicans say about Obama?
that they remain staunchly opposed to Obama's plan. near the White House. "Now is the time to act," American Nurses Association, to cap out-of-pocket costs and create a health insurance exchange in which individuals and small businesses can pool resources to help bargain Republican leaders number of people without health insurance rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.3 million in 2008. he had botched a unique opportunity to build bipartisan consensus and offer specifics on his long-awaited plan.
question: What do Republicans say?, answer: that they remain staunchly opposed to Obama's plan. | question: Where was the president while talking?, answer: near the White House. | question: What did the President say near the White House?, answer: "Now is the time to act," | question: Who is calling for a legislation this year?, answer: American Nurses Association, | question: What did he follow up with Congress with a call for?, answer: to cap out-of-pocket costs and create a health insurance exchange in which individuals and small businesses can pool resources to help bargain | question: Who are saying Obama is missing opportunities?, answer: Republican leaders | question: What does new data show?, answer: number of people without health insurance rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.3 million in 2008. | question: What did republicans say about Obama?, answer: he had botched a unique opportunity to build bipartisan consensus and offer specifics on his long-awaited plan.