Reid Thanks Baucus, Recognizes Bill Will Change

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) thanked Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus for his work on the health care bill released today by the latter, but tacitly recognized that the bill will likely change if it's to make it through the upper chamber. In an official statement, Reid called it "another important piece to the puzzle":

I appreciate Chairman Baucus' hard work over the past several months.  His proposal is another important piece to the puzzle and brings us a step closer to having a comprehensive health insurance reform bill on the Senate floor.  There will be a healthy and vigorous debate in the Finance Committee as Senators work to strengthen this proposal.  I look forward to working with Chairman Baucus and Senator Dodd as well as the White House in the coming weeks to forge a final Senate bill that lowers costs, improves quality, preserves choice and creates competition.