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SOURCEExecutive Leadership CouncilMichael Dutton of Executive Leadership Council, +1-703-706-5203,+1-703-517-3550 cell, . They are worried that newtaxes would harm small business and further hurt employment. "Especially in a recession, we need to make sure not tokill the goose that will lay the golden eggs of our recovery,"Representative Jared Polis said in a letter to House SpeakerNancy Pelosi. 'ON SCHEDULE' Doubts about the high cost of the overhaul emerged onThursday when Congress' own independent budget analyst saidreforms being considered would not control rising costs. Republicans and fiscally conservative Democrats seized onthis analysis, and called for more controls on the scale andcost of the plan. They are concerned the United States, withits $1 trillion deficit this year, can't afford expanded care.

But White House spokeswoman Linda Douglass said on Fridaythat Congressional Budget Office chief Douglas Elmendorf'sprediction that it would expand federal spending on healthcare"to a significant degree" did not take into account the manyways it is expected to bring down healthcare delivery costs. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters lawmakerswould look for more ways to save money in the government'sMedicare and Medicaid programs before the bill is brought tothe full House for a vote in the next two weeks. "We will need to build on the cost-containment measures wealready have in this bill," Hoyer said, even as Democraticleaders touted passage of the overhaul plan by two committees.A third panel is to finish its version next week, and then thefull House will debate the legislation with an eye towardpassage by the end of July. Pelosi said the Democratic-controlled chamber was "onschedule" to vote on the legislation this month.

The Senate Finance Committee is facing the most difficulttask next week because it has not agreed on ways to pay for theexpanded healthcare despite a hoped-for Aug 8 vote by the fullSenate on the bill. HEALTHCARE COSTS WORRY MANY Although most Americans have insurance partially paid forby their employers, insurance is a major worry for many,especially during a recession when a job loss could mean lossof insurance coverage. Studies show limits on coverage and rapidly rising medicalcosts contributed to half the personal bankruptcies and 1.5million home foreclosures each year, despite the highestspending per capita on healthcare of any country. The House Ways and Means Committee agreed on legislation onMonday that would raise $544 billion over 10 years to pay forthe plan's estimated $1 trillion cost in part by raising taxeson the wealthy. Critics say that measure would harm smallbusinesses who fall into this tax category.A second panel approved legislation that will guarantee noAmerican can be turned down for health insurance.