HIAWATHA, Kan. - Health care reform legislation that ran to more than 1,000 pages did little to impress Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins in the summer. At nearly twice the length now, it holds roughly the same appeal.

An initial look at the new bill, unveiled Thursday at nearly 2,000 pages, reveals the same fundamental flaws as the earlier version, the lawmaker said. That includes increased premiums, cuts to Medicare and tax increases on families and small businesses, she added.

"There are lots of initial concerns, but the biggest one still remains having the government standing in a spot between patients and their doctors," she said Friday afternoon.

Ms. Jenkins spoke at the Morrill Public Library in Hiawatha, where she delivered two large loose-leaf notebooks containing the text for the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The representative for Northeast Kansas made an earlier delivery at the public library in Atchison.

Noting the necessity of some type of health-care reform, the freshman

Republican said she has worked in a group crafting more incremental alternatives since early this session. Those measures would provide affordable and accessible coverage that addresses concerns about policy portability and pre-existing conditions.

Foremost, she said, they would not disrupt the positive aspects of the health system already in place.

"When you do reform, you want to do no harm," she said. "When you take on a government takeover, as this bill does, you're just throwing the current system under the bus."

Constituent sentiment in the Kansas 2nd District is running 80 percent against a government-run health program, Ms. Jenkins said.

Not only did the lawmaker regret the content of the legislation, she voiced disillusionment with the process. The Democratic majority, Ms. Jenkins said, closed the door to Republican input.

"I don't mind agreeing to disagree with somebody on a policy issue," she said. "What disappoints me is when you're not allowed to have the discussion."

Ms. Jenkins said representatives were told to return to Washington Monday with an expectation of a House vote on Thursday. Majority leaders told lawmakers they would stay in session until a bill passes.

A different Senate health-care bill also awaits approval.

Ken Newton can be reached

at kenn@npgco.com.