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GOP's Gregg open to healthcare discussions

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- One Republican says he welcomes the chance to discuss healthcare reform at the White House with U.S. President Barack Obama in a few weeks.

In a letter to Obama released earlier this week, Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said he was looking forward to the meeting as a chance for "constructive dialogue" and an opportunity to promote his lower-cost approach focused on preventive care and guaranteed catastrophic coverage for all families, Politico reported Thursday.

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His letter warned, however, that the House- and Senate-passed healthcare bills can't be the only basis for the discussions during the half-day meeting Feb. 25.

Gregg, who is not seeking re-election, told the Washington publication he is open to discuss specific deficit-reduction and cost-containment steps that could be used to win GOP support for healthcare reform.

"I'm not on their reach-out list, so nothing may come of this," Gregg said of Democrats' recent overtures to moderate Senate Republicans concerning healthcare legislation. "But I'm ready to sit down and try to be helpful."

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