Feingold to introduce universal health care legislation

Sen. Russ Feingold said Monday he will push legislation that wouldset up pilot projects to help states provide universal health coverage,delving into an area that could help broaden his appeal as hecontemplates a presidential run.

“The time has come to see if we can get across our ideologicaldifferences — which are serious — and to see if we can at least get offthe dime with the idea of pilot projects,” Feingold, D-Wis., told theAssociated Press in a telephone interview. “I thought it was timebasically to break a logjam.”

An estimated 46 million Americans lack health insurance.

Feingold plans to introduce the legislation in Congress later thisweek or early next week. He acknowledged it has no chance of passingthis year but said he wants to have something ready for when a newCongress takes over next year.

Feingold, a potential presidential candidate in 2008, said thehealth care plan is one of a series of domestic proposals he willintroduce during the next six months.

Read more in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.