Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Aaron Richardson - Talk Radio News Service

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) addressed core issues of the health care reform debate, including abortion and costs, during her weekly press conference Thursday.

“My position on a woman's right to choose is well known. This issue will not stand in the way of us advancing a health care legislation, and, again, the committees of jurisdiction — in fact, Energy and Commerce, tomorrow as they work on the bill, may be addressing that issue.” said Pelosi.

The speaker also addressed the high cost of insurance premiums which critics of the proposed legislation fear will increase due to the extension of coverage to Americans with pre-existing health conditions.

“They shouldn't be able to. Listen to our language: No discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. No discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions,” assured Pelosi.

The Speaker said she had spoken with conservative Democrats in the House, also known as "Blue Dogs," who have raised objections to the legislation over fiscal concerns.

“The Blue Dog Coalition has not put this proposal forward. These are four individual members of the committee who have said: “This is how the bill would work better for me in my district.” Each of them has said in his — in this case "his" own district — the treatment of public option and some of the other provisions works better in their districts.

Pelosi said she understood why certain Blue Dog members want to spend more time looking through the legislation.

"This is about people. It's about delivering health care reform that will work. That will work. So, no, I don't think there is any disproportionate influence when members speak out in favor of their own constituents.” she said.