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REGION: North America
TOPIC: Health
Online NewsHour
UPDATE Posted: July 10, 2009, 5:55 AM ET   

Health Care Reform Faces Resistance from Republicans, Democrats in Congress

President Barack Obama reiterated his goal of signing health care legislation by October this week, but his plans are facing resistance from members of his own party in Congress. NewsHour Health Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser recaps the week's news.
Sens. Baucus and Grassley, 4/2/2009; Photo Getty

In the House, members of the fiscally conservative "blue-dog" Democrats sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressing concern about some of the new taxes proposed to fund health care reform, as well as the shape of a public plan option. House Democratic leaders delayed their unveiling of a final bill, which had been planned for Friday, until at least Monday to address the concerns.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, Finance Committee chair Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., had to abandon his plan to help pay for health care reform by taxing employer health benefits after Senate Democratic leadership said they would not support it.

On Thursday, Baucus presented his committee with more than a dozen other ways to finance reform, including caps on certain tax deductions and extra taxes for couples who make more than $1 million per year.

NewsHour Health Unit Producer Bridget DeSimone talks to Health Correspondent Betty Ann Bowser about the week's legislative developments.



---- Compiled by Lea Winerman, Online NewsHour

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