Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius defended the health care overhaul against toug

(30 Oct 2013) FOUR WEEKS AFTER THE DISASTROUS ROLLOUT OF THE HEALTH CARE WEBSITE, HHS SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS FACED TOUGH QUESTIONING AS SHE WENT BEFORE CONGRESS. SHE QUICKLY APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT SHE ACKNOWLEGED WAS A FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE FOR WEBSITE USERS. SOUNDBITE (English) Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary: "Hold me accountable for the debacle. I'm responsible." IN FACT THE WEBSITE WAS DOWN AS SHE BEGAN HER TESTIMONY REPUBLICANS CONTRASTED THE PRESIDENT'S YOU CAN KEEP YOUR INSURANCE IF YOU LIKE IT STATEMENT WITH THE REALITY THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS ARE GETTING CANCELLATION NOTICES: SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Marsha Blackburn, (R) Tennessee: ''Their plans are terminated, Is he keeping his promise to them?" SOUNDBITE (English) Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary: ''Well first of all Congresswoman, they can get health insurance. they must be offered new plans, new options." AMONG THOSE LOSING COVERAGE, CONGRESSMAN CORY GARDNER WHO HELD UP HIS CANCELLATION NOTICE AND ASKED SEBELIUS TO WALK IN THE SHOES OF OTHERS GETTING NOTICES; SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Cory Gardner, (R) Colorado: "Why aren't you in the exchange? You're in charge of this law, why aren't you in the exchange?" SOUNDBITE (English) Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary: "I am not eligible for the exchange." REPUBLICANS COMPLAINED THE RUSH TO GET THE WEBSITE ONLINE MAY HAVE COMPROMISED THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF USERS: SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mike Rogers, (R) Michigan: ''You did not not even have the most basic end to end test on security of this system.'' THE PRESIDENT TRAVELLED TO MASSACHUSETTS TO UNDERSCORE THAT HIS PLAN ISN'T ALONE IN GETTING OFF TO A SLOW START, NOTING IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE PLAN APPROVED UNDER THEN-GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY TO GET GOING: SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama: "Health care reform in this state was a success. That doesn't mean it was perfect right away." SEBELIUS SAYS SHE'S CONFIDENT THE WEBSITE'S PROBLEMS WILL BE FIXED BY THE END OF NOVEMBER--SHE'S ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR A RETURN APPEARANCE IN EARLY DECEMBER. JERRY BODLANDER, ASSOCIATED PRESS CAPITOL HILL. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...