Schwarzenegger, Democratic leaders close to deal on health care reform

"I think there's determination and desire not to lose this opportunity," said Beth Capell, a lobbyist representing the Service Employees International Union. "I have to give the administration and the legislative leaders credit for keeping the doors open and a flow of information going so that there are alternatives to open warfare."

Steve Burd, chief executive of the Safeway grocery chain and a leader of a coalition of big employers who have been pushing for health care reform this year, said there's been a "sea change" among employers because of rising costs. [...]

The governor and Democrats both want a mandate on employers to provide insurance and a requirement that workers share the costs. They also generally agree that insurance providers should be required to accept all applicants and there should be caps on insurer profits.

There is consensus that government programs need to be expanded to cover more of the working poor and that premiums for everyone else should be more affordable.

The big differences are over how to pay for expanding coverage and to what degree Californians should be required to have insurance.

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