Anthony Weiner: Abortion Language Will Have to be Changed
"That language is going to have to be changed some," Weiner said. He said about 20 members may not vote for the bill if it comes back to the floor after being merged with a Senate version with the same abortion language and/or without a stronger public option.
"Of all the bitter pills we had to swallow to vote yes, this was probably the bitterest one for many of us," Weiner said of the abortion language.
The vote on the health care bill was as close as it was, Weiner told host John Dickerson, because lawmakers were taking on both the status quo and the health care lobby.
"The health insurance industry makes an enormous amount of money on the inefficiencies that exist in the system," he said. "…When they work hard to stop something – they start out with the entire Republican Party and [pick] off a few Democrats along the way."
Some of the Democrats who opposed the bill, Weiner said, wanted more cost savings in it – "and frankly," he said, "so do I." He said that was one reason the bill needs a stronger public option.
Watch the entire episode, which also includes an interview with the Washington Post's Lori Montgomery and CBS News Producer Jill Jackson, above.
Track the Progress of Health Care Reform
Abortion a Key Fault Line in Health Fight
Health Reform Faces Senate Stonewall
Breakdown of Key Provisions in House Bill
A Win for Abortion Opponents in House Bill
Cao Casts Lone GOP Vote for Health Care
Sen. Graham: House Bill "D.O.A." in the Senate
CBSNews.com Special Report: Health Care
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