Schumer and Hutchison argue over health care bill

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Charles Schumer says majority Democrats will push through a bill overhauling the health care system with or without Republican support.

The New York Democrat accused GOP lawmakers of seeking to kill it and said "they haven't put any alternative on the floor."

Schumer fenced with Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas on NBC's "Today" show in the wake of a key Senate vote Saturday night that paved the way for debate on a 10-year, $959 billion measure.

The House passed its version weeks earlier on a near party-line vote. Hutchison accused Democrats of pushing a measure that would impose heavy spending mandates on business at a time when the economy is still struggling to recover from a deep recession.

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WASHINGTON -- Resolving their own differences will be a tall order for congressional Democrats trying to deliver on President Barack Obama's signature issue, the health care overhaul.

And there will be gaps for consumers, since the Democratic measures would leave 12 million or more eligible Americans uninsured. Premiums could still be a stretch for many, even with government aid. And a new federal fund to provide temporary coverage for people with health problems would quickly run out of cash.

But before there is any White House signing ceremony, differences must be resolved on abortion, taxes and the so-called public option.

Full Senate debate begins after Thanksgiving and moderate Democrats have threatened to scuttle the bill if it contains a government insurance plan. And the House version has stricter bans on abortion funding than the Senate measure.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)