Obama kicks off bus tour boasting health care law "is here to stay"

PARMA, Ohio -- In his first campaign event and official remarks since reacting on the day of the landmark Supreme Court decision on health care, President Obama said the law isn't going anywhere.

"I'll work with anybody who wants to work with me to continue to improve our health care system and our health care laws. But the law I passed is here to stay," Obama said in Maumee, Ohio in the kick-off speech of his two-day rust belt bus trip.

Immediately after the Supreme Court decision came down, congressional Republicans vowed to fight to repeal the health care laws setting up a vote to do so later this month.

GOP state governors have also plotted ways to do the same and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney has said he will work to repeal the law on day one if he wins the presidency.

Thursday Obama insisted it's time to move on.

"Now is not the time to spend four more years refighting battles we fought two years ago. Now is the time to move forward and make sure that every American has affordable health insurance and that insurance companies are treating them fairly. That's what we fought for. That's what we're going to keep. We are moving forward," Obama said to more than 500 supporters at the Wolcott House Museum Complex a few miles outside of Toledo.

Also of note - the Obama campaign sent out a couple of background releases including the term "Obamacare," giving talking points on how they say the law will have a positive impact to Ohioans.

Obama has referenced the nickname, mostly used by pundits and critics, saying he's OK with it because he says "Obama does care."

He made no mention of the current political firestorm over whether the law is a "tax" or a "penalty," as surrogates on both the Obama campaign and GOP rival Mitt Romney continue to muddle the waters with confusing messages.

The Supreme Court declared it was a tax, and it was the swing vote by Republican-appointed Chief Justice John Roberts that upheld the law.