COLLINS: Republican and Democrats are in the Senate of course and are facing off big-time over what should or should not be included in the Democrats nearly trillion dollar health care plan. They expect to debate several amendments through the weekend and some of them including the public option provision and abortion funding are very controversial. Cost, of course, is another bone of contention. Republicans say the plan costs too much and gives government too much power. Democrats say the investment will reap dividends.</s>SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Leader Reid's bill isn't just a health care bill, it's a job creation bill that will help make more physicians, more nurses, and others in the health care field. If you're going to bring more people to be covered by health care and to be brought into the health care system, it stands to reason that you need more health care professionals to treat them. The bill will meet that demand by creating more jobs in the health sector.</s>SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: We know what the record says about small businesses in America. In the last 15 years, they have created nearly two-thirds of all of the new jobs. So in the midst of this recession, we need to give small businesses across America a helping hand. One of the things that we want to help them with is paying for health insurance.</s>COLLINS: The Democratic side of things. Yesterday, senators approved a Democratic-sponsored amendment to provide women with low- cost mammograms. A Republican proposal to restore cuts in Medicare spending was defeated. Of course, we'll stay on top of that story for you. President Obama on the road and on a mission. We'll tell you why he's headed to the so-called Rust Belt for lessons on job creation.
Senate Showdown on Health Care