Bayh explains health care waffle

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Democrat Senator Evan Bayh said his change of heart on the health care reform bill was a misunderstanding. Bayh spoke at the annual Tippecanoe County Democratic Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Lafayette. News Channel 18 caught up with him and asked about his waffling regarding the health care bill. Earlier, Bayh said he would support Republicans in blocking the bill from being debated. Other reports show he will allow the health care bill to move forward for discussion. Bayh told News Channel 18 his comments were misconstrued. He always intended to allow debate to happen.

"They said are there any conceivable circumstances you might possibly imagine not being able to support the legislation. I said I suppose theoretically and immediately I was opposed to it going forward, but I made it clear it had to be completely unconscionable and I was unaware of anything that meets that test in the bill," said Bayh.

Bayh said he's waiting to read the bill before making a decision to support it. He wants the bill to focus on lowering health care premiums for families and not increasing the national deficit. He said he supports a public option that allows states the flexibility to opt out. Democrats in the House laid out their plan to overhaul America's health care system. It includes a public option, a government-run insurance plan, and would cost nearly a trillion dollars over 10 years.

Share this story on Facebook.