Showdowns set on two key issues in healthcare debate

Congressional Democrats are set to push toward showdowns on two of the toughest issues in the healthcare debate: whether to create a government alternative to private insurance, and how to pay the approximately $1-trillion cost of the overhaul. Neither issue will be settled until after the House and Senate have voted on complete bills and start negotiating the final legislation, but it could help define what any compromise would look like, according to the Los Angeles Times.