Just days after the House of Representatives passed its version of the healthcare bill, Senator Mike Johanns is back in Nebraska discussing it.

Johanns kicked off another round a townhall meetings Wednesday night in Grand Island.

While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is saying a healthcare bill will be passed by Christmas, Johanns doesn't agree.

Armed with the document itself, Senator Johanns criticized the House's healthcare bill.

"The problems with the bill are just one thing after another thing after another thing. Higher taxes, premiums are due to go up with this bill," he said. "This bill is probably dead on arrival in the Senate."

But the senator does see some good in the bill, including coverage of more people, preexisting conditions, and its abortion language.

"Basically prohibits federal dollars from being used directly or individual to find an abortion, and I thought that was a good thing," said Johanns.

But Kevin Penner didn't come to hear Johanns talk about the House bill.

He wanted to know what the Senate bill will look like.

"Senator Johanns doesn't know what's in the Senate bill. That's the problem. We don't know," said Penner.

As a small business owner, Penner says it's hard to figure out what his healthcare costs will be in the future.

"We'd love to add some more employees, but at this point we would be absolutely crazy to because we don't know what the costs are going to be," said Penner.

But Senator Johanns says rushing a bill through the Senate isn't a good idea.

"There's no reason to have an arbitrary deadline," said Johanns. "This is very very complicated. It affects everybody. It affects 16 percent of the economy. Let's take one step at a time. Let's be very careful."

Johanns says he does want to see small hospitals protected and an end to junk lawsuits.

He says he hopes to have some version of the Senate bill later this week when he holds town hall meetings in Lexington, Kearney, and Lincoln.

Johanns' "Open Coffee" Schedule:

Thursday, Nov. 12 2009
11:30-1 p.m. CST Senator Johanns hosts an open coffee in Lexington (public welcome)
Lexington Public Library
907 North Washington St.

3-4:30 p.m. CST Senator Johanns hosts an open coffee in Kearney (public welcome)
Harmon Park Activity Center
3100 5th Ave.

Friday, Nov. 13 2009
10-11:30 a.m. CST Senator Johanns hosts an open coffee in Lincoln (public welcome)
Southeast Community College Gymnasium
8800 O St.