Healthcare reform

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. healthcare reform faces tough legislative action as lawmakers try to make one bill out of several while placating several very different constituencies.

The U.S. Senate Financial Committee Tuesday approved a measure pulled together by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. The vote was pretty much along party lines with only Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, crossing over. Even her support was tentative and could fade if the reconciliation process isn't to her liking.

The Senate is working on making two bills -- the Senate health committee also approved a reform measure -- into one that can win 60-vote support to get to the Senate floor. It will then have to be meshed with a House of Representatives' version and then voted on again by both houses before U.S. President Barack Obama gets a chance to sign it.

The legislative challenges are daunting. Baucus's bill doesn't include the so-called government or public option, which some Democrats said any reform must include. Many Republicans are just as adamant that inclusion of such a plan won't pass with their support.