Business groups reacted warily Sunday to the Senate's first stab at overhauling the nation's health care system, a rift that could complicate President Obama's goal of achieving bipartisan support for his top domestic priority.
Meanwhile, a key Republican in the health care debate said via Twitter on Sunday that he thought Obama had "nerve" to pressure Congress for quick action while he was traveling in Europe.
After weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations and friendly exchanges, debate over health care appeared to fall into familiar territory after a draft proposal by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee began circulating late last week.
"It's nice to have all these bipartisan meetings," said Julius Hobson, a Washington lobbyist for physicians and hospitals, "but when you get down to the actual writing, that's where it (can) start to fall apart."
Criticism of the draft comes during what Obama has called a "make or break" time for health care. The president has said he hopes to sign legislation by October, but business groups say provisions of the draft bill are too far-reaching for broad support.
"If this were the bill, I think we would be compelled to oppose it," said Neil Trautwein, vice president of the National Retail Federation.
Among the potential stumbling blocks:
*The measure includes a government-run insurance program that would compete with private insurance companies, an idea that Obama supports but that Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, have opposed.
*Most employers would be required to provide health insurance to workers or pay a penalty. "We're trying to get that out of there," said Hank Cox, a spokesman for the National Association of Manufacturers.
*The cost of expanding health coverage, which could be more than $1 trillion, has become a key issue. The draft does not address how changes would be paid for.
"It's no secret that the biggest sticking points will be the so-called public option and the employer mandate," said Randel Johnson, a vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Anthony Coley, a spokesman for Senate committee Chairman Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., called the proposal "a draft of a draft." The Senate Finance Committee is writing a separate bill that business groups such as the chamber expect will be less sweeping.
Obama has pushed hard for the public-financed option in recent days, including in a letter last week to Democratic senators.
"The president and many others believe that the availability of a public option alongside private options ... is a positive thing," White House adviser David Axelrod said on CBS' Face the Nation.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said via Twitter that Obama had nerve to call for prompt action while "sightseeing in Paris."
White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said Obama, who returned to Washington on Sunday, is "gratified that the Senate is working hard" on health care and that he looks forward to working with members "upon his return from the commemoration of Allied heroism at D-Day."
To see more of USAToday.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.usatoday.com
Copyright 2009 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.