White House, Leaders Agree On No Conference

On Monday, The New Republic reported that Democratic leaders in the House and Senate were "almost certain" to bypass a formal conference committee and negotiate a final health care bill among themselves, without Republicans. Now, that seems more ore less official: The Hill's Jared Allen reports that, according to Democratic leadership aides, that strategy was agreed upon at a meeting between the top two Democrats of each chamber, President Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden at a meeting Tuesday night. In other words: all the top figures, including the president, have signed off.