Obama-backed health bill gains ground

DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent WASHINGTON

Health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama all but cleared a major hurdle in the Senate early Friday as Democratic liberals and moderates on a key committee closed ranks behind the most sweeping set of changes in a half-century. Obama hailed the developments in the Senate Finance Committee as a milestone, and said in a written statement , "we are now closer than ever before to finally passing reform that will offer security to those who have c ove rage and af fo rdabl e insurance to those who don't." The legislation is designed to...