Senate Majority Leader Plans New Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate's top Democrat is poised to outline a new health care bill designed to meet President Barack Obama's goal of expanding coverage without adding to the deficit.

Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada met Wednesday morning at the Capitol with Vice President Joe Biden to go over the game plan on health care. Crucial to the White House and Reid is winning over reluctant moderate Democrats.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said he supports moving the proposal to the Senate for debate, but is still undecided about whether he'll support the legislation. Fellow Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas is also undecided on the health care proposal and hasn't said whether she supports proceeding with the bill.

Reid wants to bring his roughly $900 billion, 10-year health care remake to the floor in the next few days. The Democratic leader has spent weeks melding bills from the Senate health committee and the finance panel. Democrats plan to meet behind closed doors to discuss the bill late Wednesday afternoon.

Reid's office alerted health care allies that Senate Democratic leaders planned to unveil the bill at a Capitol Hill event at noon Thursday.

Reid must hold Democrats together to overcome procedural challenges on the floor that require 60 votes for him to prevail. The debate could drag on for weeks.