GUTTING THE FISH BEFORE YOU LAND IT:

AP sources: Senate likely to cut employer mandate (DAVID ESPO, 10/25/09, AP)

Businesses would not be required to provide health insurance under legislation being readied for Senate debate, but large firms would owe significant penalties if any worker needed government subsidies to buy coverage on their own, according to Democratic officials familiar with talks on the bill. [...]

Reid is also searching for ways to scale back a tax on high-cost insurance policies approved by the Senate Finance Committee. Organized labor strongly opposes the proposal, and the House bill is not expected to include it.