Oregon Public Broadcasting

When the Senate Finance Committee approved Chairman Max Baucus' health care bill Tuesday, Oregon's Senator Ron Wyden, and Washington's Maria Cantwell both voted yes. 

Wyden had expressed doubts over the past few weeks that the bill would do enough to encourage people with health insurance to shop around.

But despite his reservations, Wyden said he voted "yes" in the interest of guaranteeing coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, and other changes the bill would bring.

Ron Wyden: "There are some in this country whose primary goal, unfortunately, is to defeat real health reform. I don't want to do anything to advance that cause. I want to continue to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle."

This isn't the end of the Senate's work on health care.

Majority leader Harry Reid will merge the Baucus bill with a separate package shepherded by Senator Christopher Dodd.

The result must then be approved by the Senate, and reconciled with a House version.