Reid defends plan to push health care through Senate without GOP support if necessary

Reid: OK to push health overhaul ahead without GOP

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid maintains Democrats have the right to push their health care plan through Congress without Republican support.

At a bipartisan health care summit Thursday, Reid rejected Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander’s call for a promise from Democrats that they wouldn’t use an unusual move to sidestep a Republican filibuster.

Reid says that process isn’t the only way to pass the health care overhaul. But he says Republicans can’t pretend it’s never been used before to push a bill through. Reid says Republicans are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts, in the health care debate.

Reid and Alexander delivered opening remarks for their parties during the televised summit.