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BOSTON, September 30, 2005 - Legislative leaders hope to put a serious, comprehensive health care package on the governor's desk by mid-November.

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that a few major issues still stand between Gov. Mitt Romney and the Legislature. Key Democrats believe some employers will have to be forced to provide insurance or pay a penalty.

"Some are free-riding the system. They are letting other employers and the public and the taxpayers pay for their health insurance program and we don’t think that is fair," said Sen. Richard Moore.

"The overwhelming ranks of the uninsured come from, if you will, pizza shops, restaurants, taxi companies and people who are working multiple part-time jobs," said Romney. "While it's always good to talk about the Wal-Marts, Wal-Mart is not the problem here."

The governor said new taxes are also not negotiable.

"If we are not willing to discuss the cigarette tax, we are not willing to discuss both employee and employer responsibly, we will absolutely not insure the 500,000 people who are uninsured," said Sen. Mark Montigny.

Another divisive issue is clamping down on the pharmaceutical industry and forcing it to negotiate bulk purchase prices for drugs consumed by government employees, retirees and the uninsured.

"We are losing at least a $100 million a year by overpaying the pharmaceutical industry. Nobody wants to take them on because they hire the best lawyers and pay the most money," said Montigny.

The deadline for passing a bill is not artificial, with nearly $500 million in federal money at stake.

House Speaker Sal DiMasi will deliver a speech next week outlining his concepts for universal health insurance.

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