White House calls new Senate Finance health plan a ‘building block’, not the end of debate

White House: Senate health bill a ‘building block’

WASHINGTON — The White House says a health care reform bill from a key Senate committee is “an important building block” in getting closer to comprehensive health care reform.

Sen. Max Baucus released the long-awaited version of the bill from his Senate Finance committee Wednesday. The bill appears to have no Republican support.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president doesn’t see the lack of bipartisan support as the end of the debate. He says the legislative process will continue and that he hopes Republicans will listen to their constituents’ concerns about rising health care costs.