U.S. Senate Dems to start work next week on health care

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats announced plans today to begin committee work next week on health-care legislation designed to assure coverage for millions of Americans who now lack it, a key objective of the Obama administration.

But Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said the measure that goes before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee would contain gaps rather than include several controversial features included in a draft that circulated only last week.

Among them are a proposed government-run insurance plan to compete with private companies — vociferously opposed by nearly all Republicans — and a requirement for employers to pay a penalty if they fail to provide coverage for their work force.