Susan Collins climbing on board the HCR Train today

[Perky]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/14/us/politics/AP-US-Health-Care-Overhaul.html?_r=1

WASHINGTON (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?"

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Are we supposed to hate her too?

I can't keep up.

[high density]

2. Well she hates the public option more than Snowe

So probably.

[ronnykmarshall]

10. Ok, thanks.

That slag!

[Mass]

3. Do you think she will vote for a bill that is worthwhile or do you think the Senate will need to

water down the bill even more to get her?

It is not about hating her. It is about understanding the implications. It is hard enough to get 60 Dems to vote the right way without watering the bill down substantially. What is the cost of getting Republicans on board?

[Captain Hilts]

5. It's already been really watered down. Good question. nt

[damntexdem]

8. No need for hate. Just ask for a vote to invoke cloture.

No need for her to vote for the bill itself. If Dems can't manage that, it's the Dems' fault.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Where Snowe leads, Collins follows...

Snowe: Susan, stand back there while I do the talking...

[DrToast]

6. This is such crap if they sell the farm to get these two votes

It's not like these two Senators are going to provide political cover for any Dems.

[damntexdem]

7. Gonna Maine line it?

Hey, they're votes are welcome, as long as they can go with a robust public option available to all.

If they can't, all they really need do is vote for cloture, then they can vote no all they want on the ultimate Senate bill.

[depakid]

9. Sionce whe was so successful at trashing the stimulus, causing Americans to suffer longer

I guess she figures she might as well try her hand ay health care.