Enlarge By Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images Sen.-elect Scott Brown, R-Mass., right, meets with his predecessor, Sen. Paul Kirk, D-Mass., on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Kirk was appointed to replace the late Edward Kennedy. WASHINGTON  As they try to pick up the pieces of their scorched health care legislation, Democrats in Congress are focusing first on the most popular ideas, from expanding patients' rights to making insurance coverage more affordable. Days after Republicans scored an upset victory in the Massachusetts Senate election that has since stalled progress on health care, Democrats remained uncertain on how and when to advance those priorities. "We have to step back, take a deep breath and realize that … these bills as they stand now are dead," said Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, among the Democrats pushing for a more incremental approach. POLL: Most Americans want more GOP support on health care BACKGROUND: Senate passes health care bill Breaking up President Obama's health care legislation — which would have expanded health coverage to 30 million Americans— or shifting to a scaled-down bill that might win bipartisan support are among two options Democrats are considering, Pascrell and others said. Though she vowed that Congress would pass some form of legislation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday ruled out one last-ditch route that had been considered: passing the Senate's measure in the House. Too many Democrats oppose provisions in the Senate's 10-year, $871 billion bill, she said. "In its present form, without any changes, I don't think it's possible to pass the Senate bill," she said. "I don't see the votes for it." The fate of health care, Obama's top domestic priority, has been uncertain since Republican Scott Brown won Tuesday's Senate election in Massachusetts. Brown, who said he expects to be seated in coming days, would give Republicans the 41 votes they need to block a final Senate vote on the health care bill. Brown's seat was held by Sen. Edward Kennedy, an architect of the bill, for nearly 47 years. The Democratic lawmaker died in August. Throughout the past year, some provisions of the bill have received bipartisan support, such as prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and from refusing to pay claims after their enrollees become sick. Both parties broadly backed the idea of providing subsidies to help families afford premiums. Pascrell said Democrats are focusing on those measures, which polls show have wide public support. Trying to pass only popular provisions of the bill comes with risk. In the case of the new insurance regulations, the industry has said Congress must pair those rules with a requirement that everyone buy a health care plan. Otherwise, the industry says, premiums will increase. Many well-liked items in the bill are linked to more controversial ideas, said the Brookings Institution's Mark McClellan. That is partly because of the complexity of the nation's health care system, he said. "People didn't develop a trillion-dollar bill because they wanted to spend a trillion dollars," he said. Republicans said they would be willing to find common ground with Democrats if given the opportunity. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Democratic meetings in past days suggest that doesn't appear likely. "There was absolutely no indication whatsoever that the Democratic majority had gotten the message," he said of the special election. "They were … negotiating with themselves." Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more