But "we could not support a health-care bill that generally included abortion as a required service," she said.

The plan would save $700 billion in the nation's health-care bill by the end of the decade, he asserted.

To the Editor: Here's one member of the public who does not lack a strong view on the health-care bill.

He's had eight whole months, and he still hasn't signed a comprehensive health-care bill.

Americans spent $59 billion on prescription drugs last year, making them a significant part of the nation's growing health-care bill, he said.

The nation's total health-care bill is expected to exceed $600 billion this year, up about 11 percent from 1988.

Americans pay 26 percent, on average, of their own health-care bills.

The health-care bill that Congress passed last spring represents a different approach.

Perhaps the health-care bill would have been better with more Republican contributions, perhaps not.

Washington is one of six states that have passed universal health-care bills.