Sen. Casey calls for changes in health care bill

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat who opposes abortion, wants changes in the health care overhaul bill, but he’s confident the measure will pass the Senate by year’s end.

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat who opposes abortion, wants changes in the health care overhaul bill, but he’s confident the measure will pass the Senate by year’s end.

Casey says Democrats don’t have the sixty votes they need to pass health care legislation yet, but argues the reform movement has gained momentum, and will clear the Senate in December.

Casey supports a push to make sure the proposed public option doesn’t use public dollars to fund abortions.

Casey: I think there’s a consensus in the country not to have federal tax dollars pay for abortions and I think that’s the intention of people in both parties here in Washington. But I don’t think we’re there yet in the current version of the bill.

Casey didn’t say whether he’d support barring private plans offering abortion coverage from the public exchange, saying the proposal “complicates” things.

He says since there’s no template for that type of initiative, it’s difficult to tell whether the Hyde Amendment would apply.

Both Casey and Democrat Arlen Specter voted to begin debate on health care this past weekend.