Pingree comments on Senate health reform bill

Healthy Fat Senator
WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEWS CENTER) - Rep. Pingree calls the Senate passage of a health reform bill "an early Christmas present."

The Senate passed their version of a health reform bill around 7:20 on Thursday morning. Both Maine Senators voted against the legislation.

The House of Representatives had passed another version of the bill in early November.

The next step is to reconcile the differences between the bills. The House bill, for instance, includes a public option while the Senate bill does not.

Maine's First District Representative, Chellie Pingree (D), issued this statement Thursday morning:

"The vote by the Senate today is like an early Christmas present. It puts us one step closer to real, significant health care reform. Although I still believe in the need for a public option like the one in the bill we passed in the House, both bills will rein in costs, improve coverage for those who already have it and put health care within reach for millions of individuals and small business who currently can't afford it."

"There is still much work to be done to reconcile the bill the Senate passed today with the House version, but I am confident we can work out the differences and I look forward taking a final vote on health care reform early next year."

Source:wcsh6.com/