House, Senate negotiations to complete legislation will cut out Republicans

Dems to bypass (use dirty politics) tradition on final health deal

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will be top negotiators as a final compromise on health care legislation is hammered out.

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updated 4:35 p.m. ET, Mon., Jan. 4, 2010

WASHINGTON - House and Senate Democrats intend to bypass traditional procedures when they negotiate a final compromise on health care legislation, officials said Monday, a move that will exclude Republican lawmakers and reduce their ability to delay or force politically troubling votes in both houses.

The unofficial timetable calls for final passage of the measure to remake the nation's health care system by the time President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address, probably in early February.

Democratic aides said the final compromise talks would essentially be a three-way negotiation involving top Democrats in the House and Senate and the White House, a structure that gives unusual latitude to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.

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