Collins claims qualms with health bill beyond public plan

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent signals Friday that she's unlikely to back health reform legislation, even if it doesn't include the public option.

Collins went further in her opposition than her Maine colleague, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who has said she might support the Senate health bill if it includes a public (or "government-run") plan including a "trigger" instead of the "opt-out" clause it currently contains.

"It does not make sense to create a government-owned insurance company, and that's what we're talking about when people use the term 'public option,'" Collins said during an interview on MSNBC.

There had previously been some hope that Collins would join with Snowe to support healthcare bill in the Senate, but Snowe has said she would oppose the bill crafted by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

But Collins said her issues with the bill extend beyond the controversial provision. Namely, Collins argued, the proposal would not do enough to bring down the rising costs of healthcare.

"There are also other flaws with the bill that are of equal importance to me," she said. "I don't think it does enough to rein in the cost of healthcare; that is the number one issue to me."