Richard Kirsch

WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders negotiating a compromise health care bill appear likely to reject a House provision requiring employers to offer generous coverage to their workers or else pay a steep payroll tax, specialist say. The handful of moderate Senate Democrats who hold the political upper hand in shaping the final bill are expected to insist on hewing much closer to the Senate's relatively lenient approach, which does not include a strong requirement that employers offer coverage. ``I think that the House structure . . . will not fly in the Senate, given that they need 60 votes for the bill,'' said Robert Greenstein, director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Killing off the strong employer mandate in the House version would represent a substantial victory for business lobbies, who last year confronted the possibility that large Democratic majorities in the House and Senate could stick businesses with heavy regulations and fines. Several influential business group

WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders negotiating a compromise health care bill appear likely to reject a House provision requiring employers to offer generous coverage to their workers or else pay a steep payroll tax, specialist say. The handful of moderate Senate Democrats who hold the political upper hand in shaping the final bill are expected to insist on hewing much closer to the Senate's relatively lenient approach, which does not include a strong requirement that employers offer coverage. ``I think that the House structure . . . will not fly in the Senate, given that they need 60 votes for the bill,'' said Robert Greenstein, director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Killing off the strong employer mandate in the House version would represent a substantial victory for business lobbies, who last year confronted the possibility that large Democratic majorities in the House and Senate could stick businesses with heavy regulations and fines. Several influential business group

WASHINGTON - Senate Democratic leaders abandoned the last vestige of a government health plan yesterday but pledged to move ahead on a sweeping health care overhaul, infuriating many liberals but pleasing President Obama, who said victory on his highest domestic priority was within sight. Lawmakers, after getting another pep talk from Obama at the White House, said they would rather pass a weaker measure than go home empty-handed and miss a rare opportunity for a historic expansion of health care. The bill would require that nearly all Americans buy health insurance and would provide government subsidies to those who can't afford it on their own. The Senate is aiming to vote before Christmas, setting up a round of conference meetings in January to forge a compromise bill with leaders in the House, which has already passed a measure. The president, after meeting with Democratic senators, declared that America is on the ``the precipice of an achievement that's eluded Congresses and presi

The ballÕs in ReidÕs court: Passing the public option. WASHINGTON Moments after the Senate voted to open debate on its health care bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stepped off the chamber floor to take a phone call from the widow of Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts.

Business foes of health care overhaul boost TV ads, other efforts as focus shifts to Senate. Business foes of health care overhaul legislation are outspending supporters at a rate of 2-to-1 for TV ads as they grow increasingly nervous over a final bill.

Business foes of health care overhaul legislation are outspending supporters at a rate of 2-to-1 for TV ads as they grow increasingly nervous over a final bill.

WASHINGTON The hour was late when an aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent him the vote tally as the House passed its health care reform bill after a raucous Saturday night session.

ReidÕs now a hero of the left for backing the public option, but his work isnÕt done. WASHINGTON In the 10 minutes it took for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to outline his proposal for including a public option in the health care bill, the Nevadan went from being the political lefts punching bag for failing to lead on perhaps the biggest issue of his career to its celebrated champion of health care reform.

New phase in fierce health care debate; focus now on a handful of legislative bottlenecks. The fierce national debate over health care is entering a new phase, with advocates on all sides focused on a few legislative bottlenecks that will determine the ultimate overhaul of the $2.5 trillion medical care system.

The fierce national debate over health care is entering a new phase, with advocates on all sides focused on a few legislative bottlenecks that will determine the ultimate overhaul of the $2.5 trillion medical care system.

WASHINGTON - Although Democratic leaders in Congress praised his remarks and made fresh pledges to approve a health care bill, President Obama in his speech Wednesday night did not immediately win over some moderate Democrats who have expressed reservations and who would be key to winning final passage. Governor looks to ease insurance burden on small businesses. B1 Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat from Nebraska, said it would take a few days for the president's ideas to ``percolate'' as moderates studied them more closely and gauged constituent opinion. At home this weekend, Nelson said, he planned to ``go down to Ace Hardware and see what they say when I'm checking out.'' He said he remained concerned about raising money to pay for a health insurance expansion by taxing insurers on their most expensive plans. The move, he said, might raise premiums for everyone. After his big speech before a joint session of Congress, Obama gave more evidence that he is assuming a more active role afte

President Barack Obama will deliver a major prime-time health care address to Congress next week, opening an urgent autumn push to gain control of the debate that has been slipping from his grasp under withering Republican-led attacks.

President Barack Obama will deliver a major prime-time health care address to Congress next week, opening an urgent autumn push to gain control of the debate that has been slipping from his grasp under withering Republican-led attacks.

As debate rages over public health plan, private insurers seem to be quashing competition. One of the most widely accepted arguments against a government medical plan for the middle class is that it would quash competition ? just what private insurers seem to be doing themselves in many parts of the U.S.

One of the most widely accepted arguments against a government medical plan for the middle class is that it would quash competition ? just what private insurers seem to be doing themselves in many parts of the U.S.

As debate rages over public health plan, private insurers seem to be quashing competition. One of the most widely accepted arguments against a government medical plan for the middle class is that it would quash competition ? just what private insurers seem to be doing themselves in many parts of the U.S.

Groups opposing health care overhaul delight as Senate delays crucial votes into autumn. August means beaches and barbecues. And for some, a chance to rally the troops for this fall's health care showdown.

August means beaches and barbecues. And for some, a chance to rally the troops for this fall's health care showdown.

WASHINGTON - Laying out in the clearest terms yet what he wants in a healthcare overhaul, President Obama told Congress yesterday that he strongly believes Americans should have the choice of a new public health insurance plan that would compete against private insurers. Obama said he is also ``open'' to requiring individuals to obtain insurance coverage - which he opposed during his campaign - as long as there is a hardship exemption for those who cannot afford it, an approach similar to the system in Massachusetts. He said he supports forcing employers to contribute to their employees' insurance but that there should be exemptions for small businesses. In a detailed two-page letter to key senators released yesterday, the president wrote that he wants to ``fully offset the cost of healthcare reform'' by cutting an additional $200 billion to $300 billion from Medicare and Medicaid over the next decade, on top of the $309 billion reduction he has already proposed in the government's two

US lawmakers face a slew of key debates before the August recess, with President Barack Obama urging them to back his ambitious agenda with bills on healthcare reform and global warming, and the confirmation of a new Supreme Court judge.