Pelosi downplays Democratic defections on health law

Bloomberg: Democrats Downplay Lawmaker Defections Over Affordable Care Act
Democratic lawmakers downplayed the support some members of their party gave to a Republican bill that would let insurers sell for another year health policies that don't meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, speaking yesterday on NBC's "Meet the Press," said the 39 House Democrats who supported the Nov. 15 measure were basically those who had already opposed an insurance mandate for individuals and businesses (Gallu, 11/18).

Roll Call: Pelosi Dismisses Obamacare Defections, Defends Statements
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi defended her rhetoric leading up to passage of the 2010 health care law Sunday while seeking to minimize the reports of unrest in her caucus and the potential for political fallout in the wake of the law's rocky rollout (Dumain, 11/17).

CNN: Pelosi Defends Obamacare Claims, Can't Predict Effect On Dems In Midterms
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said Sunday neither she nor President Barack Obama misled the American people when they said, during the run-up to the passage of Obamacare, that people could keep their health insurance plans (Clary, 11/17).

And on another health policy issue -

The Associated Press: Senate Candidate Proposes Medicare For All Ages
Like his Republican opponents, Democratic Senate candidate Rick Weiland of South Dakota thinks President Obama's healthcare law is flawed. But unlike the Republican candidates, who want to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Weiland thinks voters will support keeping the law if people of all ages have the option of signing up for Medicare (11/17).