Carnahan Excited, Concerned About Health Care Bill

DAVID A. LIEB

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan said she is both excited and concerned about legislation passed by the House that would overhaul the nation's health care system.

Carnahan, Missouri's secretary of state, has previously expressed general support for a health insurance overhaul but has shied away from taking positions on particular proposals. Though asked twice Tuesday, she declined to say directly whether she supported the House-passed bill.

"We need to provide more affordability, more access and more stability to all Americans," Carnahan said in a brief interview. "I'm a little concerned on the House bill about the affordability side. ... I know, though, that it's an important first step to get that passed out of the House."

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the 2010 Senate race, voted against the legislation, which passed the Democratic-led House 220-215 Saturday night. Blunt has said the bill could increase costs for consumers, businesses and the government while imposing cuts to Medicare, the health care program for seniors and the disabled.

"It's families and patients who will suffer most under this government takeover of health care," Blunt said in a statement explaining his vote against the bill.