Senate panel takes careful approach to crafting health bill

Senate Finance Committee members say they are trying to resolve potential healthcare reform controversies behind closed doors and produce a bill that can withstand the close scrutiny. Senior panel members have expressed confidence that they could complete committee action on such a bill before President Obama's Aug. 7 deadline and attract significant bipartisan support. The measure would meet President Obama's goal of expanding coverage while lowering long-term health costs, without relying on a surtax on wealthy households as the House's bill would impose.