parsa khan's List: REV Media Mashup: HealthCompare 01.05.2010

House Democratic leaders will meet on Tuesday to begin discussing plans to merge their version of major health care legislation with the bill adopted by the Senate on Christmas Eve. But leadership aides in both chambers say there are no plans for a formal conference committee to reconcile the two measures.

Since it's basically one-party rule in Washington nowadays, Democratic leaders including Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are seriously considering pushing President Obama's beloved healthcare legislation through Congress without the normal conference committee work involving both party's members from both houses.

The Senate health care bill could end up hitting middle-class workers hard, through a new tax on insurance plans that could ultimately cut through to their wages.

If you celebrated New Year's Eve by hosting a wine-tasting at your condo in Vail, this column is not for you. But if your festivities were overshadowed by concerns about how you'll provide health insurance for your family in 2010, keep reading.