PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine says a new health care overhaul bill unveiled by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee represents a step toward what she hopes will be a plan that both Republicans and Democrats can support.

Snowe says she’s pleased that Sen. Max Baucus of Montana moved away from a public option in his health care plan. She also says his bipartisan approach “laid real and substantial groundwork for bipartisan cooperation during this ongoing process.”

Snowe is one of the so-called “Gang of Six” Republicans and Democrats on the committee who’ve been trying to reach a bipartisan agreement.

Baucus, a Democrat, brought forth his proposal Wednesday without any visible GOP support. Snowe says “a number of issues still need to be addressed.”