The gloves to come off in reform debate

It wasn't clear at press time whether the Republicans would get permission from the Democrats to offer their own version before the full House. The Democrats' version contains language similar to the Senate's call for a first-ever long-term care disability insurance program.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said debate on that chamber's bill would begin as soon as he received cost estimates from the CBO. However, at press time, Democrats did not appear to have a filibuster-proof 60 votes to fend off a threatened Republican filibuster.