January 6th, 2010

Philadelphia Inq Reports:

WASHINGTON – Congressional Democrats and President Obama resumed work yesterday to resolve difficult issues still standing in the way of their national health-care overhaul.

Topping the list: How to help Americans pay for insurance premiums.

Republicans weren’t invited, and they complained that the Democrats intend to deliberate behind closed doors – though lawmakers often do so in the final stages of complex legislation.

Separately, Brian Lamb, head of the nonpartisan C-SPAN public-affairs network, urged congressional leaders to allow broadcasting of the negotiations, as Obama had promised as a candidate.

Obama met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D., Md.) at the White House yesterday evening. Joining by telephone were Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D., Ill.), who were out of town.

The White House will take the lead role in settling disputes that could stall the bill, a congressional leadership aide said on condition of anonymity.

House liberals face the virtual certainty they will not get the government-run insurance plan they had sought, a point Pelosi acknowledged. “There are other ways to do that, and we look forward to having those discussions,” she told reporters.

Click here to read full article