The battle over health reform seems to be at a standstill. That is why President Obama invited 22 democrats and republicans to join him for a summit this morning, carried on live television. Here in Montana, some still waiting for reform, tuned in to see if today's meeting was a step forward, or just more political bickering.

Bill Twedt runs a small farm and ranch management service near Great Falls. He is self-employed and says he hasn't been able to afford health insurance for 30 years. His wife is a cancer survivor and he had a stroke several years ago. Now the couple has medical bills totaling $150,000.

"My medical bills are so overwhelming," Twedt said. “It’s practically bankrupted us.”

Twedt was an invited guest of Montana Change That Works, a grassroots non-profit group claiming to work for legislative change that helps working Montana families. Twedt and others who have suffered economic hardships due to medical problems gathered to watch the summit.

"I was hoping to see some kind of reform,” Twedt sadi. “ut it was just politics and posturing."

Those involved in the summit had a similar assessment.\

“This was politics trumping practical common sense,” said President Obama.

"We are against the president's plan. So are the American people."

“I was discouraged by the outcome,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “I do not believe there will be republican support for this bill that the American people are so opposed to.”

Twedt says he'd like to be able to join groups with other small business owners for health insurance. But says he is is still not too optimistic that any real reform will happen.

"I see from a hopeless side nothing is going to be done. Unless there is a golden cure things are not going to change."

Senator Jon Tester said: “today’s meeting saw a lot of disagreement. But it was a step toward the bipartisanship Montanans expect. And it was a reminder that we’ve got to work together through these differences, because the stakes are just too.”