Senate, House Of Representatives | featured news

After earlier fits and starts, legislation to insure nearly all Americans is approaching votes in the House and in the Senate.

Democrats pushed healthcare reform legislation forward in a key House of Representatives panel on Friday but overall progress for President Barack Obama's top policy goal has slowed ahead of a monthlong August recess.

White House budget director Peter Orszag said on Sunday the administration was sticking with its goal of having the Senate and House of Representatives pass their versions of a healthcare overhaul bill before they break for their August recess.

The plan is budgeted at $789 billion, which is smaller that original bills passed by each chamber. It could be sent to President Obama for his signature by the end of the week.

House and Senate negotiators have struck a deal on a final version of a sweeping economic recovery package.

House, Senate leaders scale plan down to $789.5B, a net reduction of almost $40B from what the Senate approved yesterday, senior adviser says.

After a 61-to-37 vote that was largely along party lines, negotiations with the House over the $838 billion bill will begin.

The House version of the stimulus bill emphasizes helping states and localities avoid wide-scale cuts, while the Senate plan focuses more on tax cuts.