GOP’s Sen. Ayotte Wants Health Care ‘Time Out’

NEW JERSEY 101.5

A moderate Republican senator is calling for a "time out" in the implementation of President Barack Obama's new health care program while coming out in support of a presidential run by Chris Christie.

Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) on CBS This Morning (CBS)

Cover for the book Double Down (Amazon.com)

New Hampshire's Sen. Kelly Ayotte tells "CBS This Morning" that New Jersey's governor is a "strong candidate" for president and the allegations made about him in the book Double Down serve only "to sell books." The book says Ayotte was also on Romney's list of vice presidential nominees.

The junior Senator from the Granite State says the best way to deal with the problems in the plan's roll-out, it's necessary to regroup.

The Healthcare.gov web site has been plagued with access problems and at least 3.5 million Americans have received cancellation notices.

Ayotte said the problems go "much deeper than the website."

She adds, quote, "I would like us to take a complete time out and let us work together." Ayotte advocated convening a bipartisan group of lawmakers, saying, "Let's see how we can get this right for the people." Ayotte says she has supported repealing what administration critics call "Obamacare," but says that's not going to happen.

Hollywood targeted to give health-care law a boost

The health care overhaul might get a Hollywood rewrite.

The California Endowment, a private foundation that is spending millions to promote President Barack Obama's signature law, recently provided a $500,000 grant to ensure TV writers and producers have information about the Affordable Care Act that can be stitched into plot lines watched by millions.

The aim is to produce compelling prime-time narratives that encourage Americans to enroll, especially the young and healthy, Hispanics and other key demographic groups needed to make the overhaul a success.

California Republican strategist Jonathan Wilcox says the attempt to engage Hollywood was coming too late to influence views, and he doubted fictionalized TV would play into families' decisions about health care.