Closed-Door Health Reform Negotiations Continue - January 12, 2010

Senior congressional staff from both chambers are meeting in marathon sessions to negotiate the myriad differences between House and Senate-passed health reform legislation. According to press reports, key sticking points include how to structure health insurance exchanges, prohibition of federal funding for abortion, and how to pay for the bills. While ambitious, congressional leaders and the White House hope to send final health reform legislation to the President by his State of the Union speech, which could be delayed until early February. A later—and perhaps more achievable—deadline being discussed is the President’s Day recess, scheduled to begin on Friday, Feb. 12.