Maine's two U.S. Senators stuck with their Republican colleagues Saturday, voting against moving the health care reform bill forward. Sen. Olympia Snowe, who is opposed to the government-run "public option" included in the bill, said the measure is too partisan.
"Mr. President, I cannot support moving to a health care reform bill on a procedural motion designed to prevail, not on policy grounds, but on partisanship," Snowe said.
Sen. Susan Collins also voted against opening debate on the health care reform measure, saying it's hopelessly flawed and a new approach is needed.
"I continue to believe that the American people would be better served by a bipartisan bill that brings together the best ideas," Collins said.
While Democrats prevailed, and the bill will move forward, there are some conservative Democrats who, like Snowe, oppose the public option. Liberal Democrats want the public option and want to ease the abortion funding restrictions in the House version of the legislation.