The Blue Dog co-chair Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD) is out with a mostly non-committal response to the President's speech. I've placed it below the fold, but in the most significant part of it, Sandlin says, "Blue Dogs agree with President Obama that the insurance market should be reformed. We must end the practice of denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions, and we must eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse that is currently bankrupting the system."

Adds Herseth-Sandlin, "The Blue Dogs share the President's commitment to passing health care reform this year, and we look forward to continuing the important work of crafting this critical legislation."

"Over the past several months, the Blue Dogs have been working diligently with the President and other members of Congress to move forward with commonsense health care reform that the American people want and deserve. We simply cannot allow political gamesmanship and partisan bickering to stand in the way of meaningful reform.

"Blue Dogs believe we have a responsibility to pass health care reform legislation that is deficit neutral, increases the value and quality of care for all Americans, and that takes a responsible approach to controlling costs over the long term.

"Let me be clear: We simply cannot sustain the rising cost of health care. If we have any hope of reining in deficits and protecting our economy for future generations of Americans, we have to implement reform that addresses this critical issue.

"Blue Dogs agree with President Obama that the insurance market should be reformed. We must end the practice of denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions, and we must eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse that is currently bankrupting the system.

"The Blue Dogs share the President's commitment to passing health care reform this year, and we look forward to continuing the important work of crafting this critical legislation."