http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMRM8IFKa3ZmMaa-N_nRCuf9U9oAD99ODVVG0By ERICA WERNER (AP) – 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON — The White House, Democratic leaders and four fiscally conservative House lawmakers worked out a deal Wednesday to move ahead on sweeping health care legislation.
The agreement would allow a committee vote, preserving momentum on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
The deal calls for exempting more small businesses from a requirement to offer coverage, trimming subsidies to help people buy health insurance, and making any government-sponsored insurance plan negotiate payment rates with medical providers — instead of dictating them.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee planned to begin work on the bill Thursday. Amendments to the legislation would include provisions of the deal. The committee is the last of three in the House to act on the legislation, and Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., hoped to finish by Friday when lawmakers leave for their monthlong August recess.
The House has put off a vote on the overall legislation until September.