North Carolina's two Blue Dogs say they're ready to move forward on health reform, as long as the path veers away from the thousand-page bill being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Among the state's 13 House members, Reps. Heath Shuler of Waynesville and Mike McIntyre of Lumberton represent the middle coalition of Democrats who have been central players in shaping President Barack Obama's quest for health reform.
Both are members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a powerful group of fiscal conservatives, many of them Southerners, who have been influential in the debate.

They, along with 50 other Blue Dogs, were among the primary targets of Obama's Wednesday night address, reports Barb Barrett.

Shuler said Thursday that lawmakers must take a fresh look at the bill. "The House bill as it presently exists is unacceptable to me," he said. "It doesn't reflect what the president said [Wednesday] night. There have to be major overhauls."

McIntyre, though, said he still can't support $900 billion. "We can make incremental changes in a way that's more affordable," he said.

Read more about the Blue Dogs here.