Sen. Susan Collins Open to Voting for Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON - Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) joins her fellow Senator from Maine Olympia Snowe in her support for health care reform.

The Republican Senator signaled Wednesday that she may be open to voting for health care legislation this year although she believes the Finance Committee bill needs substantial improvements.

The Associated Press reports that Collins said in an interview "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," the Senator continued by saying "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."

The $829 billion Finance bill was approved on Tuesday by a vote of 14-9 with Senator Snowe (R-ME) breaking ranks with her Republican colleagues to vote for the bill.

In her official statement released Wednesday Sen. Collins said: "There simply is no question that our nation’s health care system requires substantial reform. The status quo of soaring health care costs, families struggling, millions uninsured, and health care provider shortages is unacceptable. Maine families and small businesses are paying ever higher premiums, increased deductibles and greater co-pays."

Sen. Collins went on to praise her fellow colleague from Maine as she made her feelings known about the previous bills put forth by the House and the Senate Health Committee. Collins said "Due, in large measure, to the efforts of Senator Olympia Snowe, who has worked tirelessly, the legislation passed by the Senate Finance Committee represents a substantial improvement over the costly and flawed alternative approved by the Senate Health Committee as well as the House bills."

It remains to be seen if either Senator will vote for a final bill due to the complex nature of the health care reform issue but with their recent statements it seems that both of the lawmakers are willing to go the extra mile to possibly reach an agreement.