http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/14/us/politics/AP-US-Health-Care-Overhaul.html?_r=1WASHINGTON (AP) -- A second Republican senator signaled Wednesday she's open to voting for sweeping health care legislation this year, putting President Barack Obama closer to a historic achievement that has eluded generations of Democratic leaders.
But Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told The Associated Press that the bill approved Tuesday by the Finance Committee needs substantial improvements to make coverage more affordable, contain costs, and protect Medicare. Nevertheless, she joined her Maine GOP colleague Sen. Olympia Snowe in endorsing the goal of far-reaching changes.
''My hope is we that can fix the flaws in the bill and come together with a truly bipartisan bill that could garner widespread support,'' Collins said in an interview. ''I think this bill is far superior to the ones passed by the Senate (health) committee and the three House committees, but it needs substantial additional work.''
Must have seen this poll of Maine votere:
A new poll of Maine voters from the Pan Atlantic SMS Group, which regularly surveys the state, offers a glimpse at the home state pressure on Olympia Snowe -- and Susan Collins -- to break with her party and back health care legislation, and suggests that they would be rewarded at home for backing a public option.
The survey finds that 58% of Mainers approve of how President Obama is doing his job, and that a plurality of 46% back his plans for health care.
A twenty-point majority favor a public option, asked like this:
"Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government administered health insurance plan – something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get – that would compete with private health insurance plans?"
And huge majorities also back heavy regulation of insurance companies, asked thus:
"Would you favor or oppose increased regulation on private health insurance companies, such as limiting the amount insurance companies can charge patients for out-of-pocket costs and limiting the ability of insurance companies to deny people coverage?"