Both of Florida's senators say there's plenty of room for improvement to the health care reform bill being brought to debate by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Republican Sen. George LeMieux said Thursday he's still trying to figure out everything the 2,074-page bill does.
"I'm going to be one of those sitting up all night on the Senate floor trying to read this bill and figure out all that's in it," he told Scripps Howard. "But what I do know is that it cuts Medicare by $500 billion, increases taxes by $500 billion and does nothing to reduce the cost of health care."
Noting that 4 million Floridians lack health insurance, LeMieux said, "We all agree there are things that need to be done, but this is the wrong path, especially in terms of taking money from health care for seniors."
Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said in a statement issued by his Washington office that "regardless of where anyone stands on specifics, most folks agree the current system can be unfair and too costly and it needs to be fixed. We can't afford to sit by and do nothing anymore.
"There are good elements to the bill Senator Reid unveiled. It will provide affordable coverage for millions of uninsured Americans, prevents insurance companies from dropping folks who get sick, and denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. The legislation will also reduce the deficit."
LeMieux vowed, "We're going to take as much time on the floor as we need to improve this bill. There are ways to do this without so much government. Republicans will come in with amendments as honest brokers, but the Democrats have to be ready to work with us."
Nelson also said he will "work to improve it (the health bill) on the Senate floor, particularly by trying to force drug companies to lower prices for prescriptions covered under Medicare."
Nelson has been one of several vocal Democrats who are accusing drug companies of bumping up prices in the past year in order to create phantom savings that support the industry's pledge to trim $8 billion a year in drug costs as health reforms kick in.
He said he plans to resume efforts to trim the amount the government pays for drugs for about six million seniors under the Medicare prescription drug program through an amendment to the main reform plan.
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