Bayh appears torn in health care debate

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indiana Senator Evan Bayh will cast key votes in the health care debate on Capitol Hill. That's why recent comments made by the Democrat have sparked a controversy. The comments were made in an interview with Bob Schieffer on CBSnews.com.

Bayh indicated that he might vote with the Republicans to prevent a health care debate on the Senate floor, which provoked Democratic bloggers and others to react.

In the interview, Senator Bayh was asked if he would vote with Republicans to support a filibuster.

"If there are things that are in the bill that I think are just beyond the pale, for example, that would really explode the deficit in the out years, or dramatically increase the premiums that ordinary families are paying, I just don't think that's even worth starting a discussion on."

For Al Bush and other members of MoveOn.org, those were fighting words.

"What I want is health care and I want health care reform," said Bush.

He and others threatened to withhold support for Bayh's re-election bid next year.

"I'd like to see him make a commitment to not support any Republican filibusters...to get it to an up or down vote and to finally support passage of the bill," said Bush.

Bayh now says he will vote against a filibuster to get the debate started, but he won't make any other commitments.

He will vote to end the debate and go to an up or down vote on the bill only if he supports it, he also told CBS.

"As we get further along in this, I view procedure and substance as being largely one and the same," said Bayh.

That means a vote with the Republicans is still an option.

Late Friday afternoon, a Bayh spokesman sent an e-mail saying that the senator is comfortable with the direction the health care bill is headed. That's why he's willing to help get the debate started.