Maine Senator Susan Collins is among a group of republicans urging colleagues in Washington to include several measures to lower health insurance costs in the budget bill up for consideration this week.
Collins says the package of bills she has crafted with Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander would lower insurance premiums by 40 percent. She is also downplaying opposition to language banning the use of federal funds for abortions, saying the so-called Hyde language has been in use since 1976.
“This is nothing that is radical or new,” Collins says. “It is standard Hyde language. And that is why I am so baffled at the opposition that has arisen.”
Collins also says it would be “incredibly disappointing if some members derail this serious effort to reduce the cost of health insurance for millions of people.”
