The rollout of the Affordable Care Act is unacceptable, but "this is what happens when you do something big," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in an interview.
"I think it's unacceptable," Pelosi said on
National Public Radio Monday. "Now, they say, there's a plan for it to be working by the end of November, and I find that acceptable."
This is not the first time Pelosi has criticized the Obamacare rollout. She made similar comments Sunday on
ABC's "This Week," and last week said the website's faults
go "beyond glitches."
The California Democrat told NPR that the parts of Obamacare that already are implemented have "been working just fine," but "the technology hasn't," and that's where she finds fault.
"It will work, and we'll go forward," she said.
Pelosi likened the rollout of Obamacare to the rollout of Medicare Part D, passed and implemented under President George W. Bush. She cited several media reports, which, at the time, criticized the prescription-drug plan.
"The point is, this is what happens when you do something big," Pelosi said. "And at the time, the Republicans' statements about it were exactly that."
Pelosi refused to discuss a possible extension of the sign-up deadline if the website isn't working by the end of November.
"I don't even know why we're spending so much time talking about if it doesn't work," she said. "Let's spend our energy and time making it work."
"But I don't think you have it almost be a self-fulfilling prediction that it's not going to work," Pelosi added.
The White House announced late Monday that
individuals now have until March 31 to sign up for health insurance, a six-week extension from the original deadline.
HealthCare.gov, the Obamacare exchange website set up by the government, has been plagued with problems since it was launched Oct. 1, making it nearly impossible for Americans to sign-up.
Congressional hearings are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is to testify Wednesday. Several Republicans already have called for her resignation.
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