|
|
LISA LERER
Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.) said Sunday he would consider voting against a health care bill he doesn't like, even if his vote would sink the bill.
The congressman is one of three Democrats who voted against the bill last November, but says he's now undecided after announcing his retirement later this year.
"This is an improvement," said Baird on CNN's "State of the Union." "The House bill was better than the status quo, I think the Senate bill is better than that."
Last fall, Baird opposed the legislation in part because he wanted it to incorporate more Republican ideas.
But after the recent health care summit, Baird says he doubts that Republicans are truly interested in negotiating a compromise.
"We don't have a dance partner," he said. "They're not willing to come even a little bit of distance to find common ground because they are so eager to have this as a political weapon in the fall."
Baird is a key vote for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and is under intense pressure from the Democratic leaders to back the bill.
"The difficult choice for some of us is to say, 'This is not the bill I would write by a darn sight, but it is certainly better than the status quo what would we do if we don't have this option,' " Baird said.
