A vast health care overhaul has been stalled in the Senate for a month but gained new urgency on Nov. 8 when the House of Representatives passed a bill designed to rein in costs, extend coverage to millions of uninsured and bar practices such as denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.

Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid of Nevada and his No. 2, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), said they hoped to bring the Senate's health care bill to the floor next week and to have the first procedural vote on whether to open debate.

But Sen. Durbin said it would be difficult to meet President Barack Obama's goal of signing a bill on reforming the $2.5 trillion U.S. health care system by the end of the year.

"I hope so, but just count the days," Sen. Durbin told reporters when asked if they could meet President Obama's deadline. “Our goal is to make sure it is out of the Senate this year," Sen. Durbin said.

That would mean negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions would occur in January, and each chamber would have to pass the merged bill again before Obama could sign it into law.

. . . Republican opponents hope dragging out the process will allow more time for public opposition to mount, as it did in August when lawmakers went home for a one-month recess and faced sometimes fierce criticism from voters.

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