Senate panel passes health bill

The finance committee's bill must now be combined with a bill drafted by the Senate Health Committee before going to the full Senate for a vote. It is not guaranteed to pass, as it needs all the Democrats, two independents and one Republican to vote in favour.

[...] Lawmakers are divided, however, over whether there should be a new government-run insurance scheme - the so-called "public option".

The finance committee's bill is the only one not to include a public option, an element advocated by Mr Obama and some Democrats as the means of creating competition between insurers.

SOURCE: BBC News