WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives try to meet President Barack Obama's request to get a health care bill passed by year's end.  Supporters say the nearly 1,990-page "Affordable Health Care for America Act" would give 94-percent of Americans health insurance.

The Congressional Budget Office has weighed in, saying the house plan will reduce the federal budget deficit by $104 billion over the next decade.

Republicans argue the plan includes too many taxes that will passed on to the poor and middle class.  Like the legislation approved by the Senate last week, the House Bill includes the highly debated public option.  That option would allow the federal government to sell their own insurance in competition with private providers.

House Democratic leaders hope to move their bill to the floor for a vote by the end of the week.  In the Senate, top Democrats say they may not pass legislation by the President's year-end deadline.  Lawmakers from both chambers will have to reach a compromise and cast final votes before sending the legislation to Mr. Obama.

Republicans unveiled their own health care reform plan today, which focuses more on lowering costs than expanding coverage.  It has no requirement for people to buy insurance.  It allows insurance companies to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.  It also caps damages in medical malpractice cases.

Battle lines are being drawn, even within parties.  Rep. John Shimkus, R-Illinois District 19, says he is barely through either bill.  He does want to keep insurance companies from picking who they insure, but he does not feel a government option is the answer.

Most of Congress just returned to Washington Tuesday morning.  They were met by a health care reform bill that now numbers 1,990 pages.  Shimkus says he is not sold on the plan yet, especially because it does not address what will happen ten or 15 years down the road.

"This argument that if you like what you have today you can keep it is not grounded in facts because all health insurance plans will have to meet a federal standard and will be changed somewhat," Shimkus says.

The Republican Congressman says the public option included in the current bill will lead to a single-payer system, which is why it won't get Republican support.  Shimkus does admit reform is needed, especially when it comes to Americans with pre-existing medical conditions.  Most private insurance companies won't cover them, or make the premiums so high people can't afford them..

"I think it's pretty well accepted here in Washington that we need insurance reform, and those insurance reforms address the issues of pre-existing conditions," he says.

Shimkus says it makes no sense for sick people not to have insurance, but he cannot support the Democrats' health care reform bill as it reads right now and is unversed on the Republicans' proposal to take a stance.

Shimkus supports allowing 100-percent tax deductibility of health insurance by individuals, just as corporations are allowed.  Shimkus is not the only one weighing  in on the House Bill.

Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Illinois District 12, says he is reviewing the bill and is reserving judgement because he anticipates additional changes.

Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Kentucky District 1, is already against the House Bill.

"This 2,000 page plan, nearly twice as long as their first proposal, still places unreasonable, job-killing mandates on employers; and puts important health care decisions into the hands of Washington bureaucrats; and makes huge cuts to medicare and medicare advantage," Whitfield says.

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Missouri District 8, says that she is also opposed to the bill in its current form.

Rep. John Tanner, D-Tennessee District 8, continues reviewing the 1,990-page bill.  He points out that he voted against a bill that came before his House Committee this past summer, but also points out that this is a completely different bill from that one.