Pelosi hoping for changes to the Baucus proposal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) welcomed some elements of the health bill unveiled in the Senate on Wednesday, but said she hoped changes would be made to the final package.

Pelosi praised elements of the health bill introduced by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, but asserted that the bill should be brought more in line with the proposals favored by House Democrats.

"We are pleased that Senator Baucus’ plan mirrors some key provisions in the House proposal, including sweeping insurance reforms and consumer protections," Pelosi said in a statement. "As this proposal evolves, we hope to see modifications that result in the Senate bill better reflecting the work of the House to make health care more affordable for all Americans and promote competition that is key to keeping costs lower."

Pelosi argued that the House bill does more to drive down the cost of insurance and more efficiently closes the so-called "donut hole" in prescription drug affordability for seniors.

"I believe the public option is the best way to achieve that goal," Pelosi reiterated in support of the controversial plan, which isn't included in Baucus's Finance committee proposal.

Pelosi has said before that she would be unable to pass a bill in the House that lacks a public option, citing the large number of liberal Democrats who have said they would vote against any plan without the public option.

By contrast, the Baucus proposal, which was crafted to win over centrist Democrats and some Republicans in the Senate, won some praise from centrist Blue Dog Democrats in the House, who have largely said they could not support a bill including the public option.

Pelosi said that the Baucus plan would help move forward the healthcare debate, and that House Democrats would begin studying the proposals in greater depth.

“We look forward to studying the impact of the Senate Finance Committee Chairman’s mark on America’s families and businesses, and on the cost of health care. The fifth and final Congressional committee is now putting forward a product that will move this historic debate forward," she said.