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Breakthrough on health care: tentative deal on cost tax WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major break- through, union leaders bowed Thursday to White House demands for a new tax on high-cost health plans as part of landmark health care legislation taking final shape in intensive negotiations. The tentative agree- ment on the tax, which included significant con- cessions by the adminis- tration, was disclosed as leading lawmakers set an informal timetable of Fri- day for an agreement on the health care bill that President Barack Obama made a top priority in tak- ing office a year ago. Democrats expressed the hope that the agree- ment would quickly open the way for progress on other key issues where House and Senate-passed bills differ, as well as attempts by the White House to squeeze addi- tional financial conces- sions from drug makers, nursing homes and other health care providers. On a separate issue, makers of generic drugs, backed by the White House and a senior con- gressional ally, sought to reduce the patent protec- tion that pharmaceutical companies receive for their new-to-market biotech products. The House and Senate bills both limit competition for 12 years. The fast-paced events came as senior lawmakers went to the White House for the second straight day of bargaining over terms of a final compro- mise, and Obama arranged an appearance before the House Democ- ratic rank-and-file in late afternoon Thursday in the Capitol complex. Obama: Tax banks to get remaining bailout back WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama told banks Thurs- day they should pay a new tax to recoup the cost of bailing out foundering firms at the height of the financial crisis. ''We want our money back,'' he said. In a brief appearance with advisers at the White House, Obama branded the latest round of bank bonuses as ''obscene.'' But he said his goal was to prevent such excesses in the future, not to punish banks for past behavior. The tax, which would require congressional approval, would last at least 10 years and gener- ate about $90 billion over the decade, according to administration estimates. ''If these companies are in good enough shape to afford massive bonuses, they are surely in good enough shape to afford paying back every penny to taxpayers,'' Obama said. Advisers believe the administration can make an argument that banks should tap their bonus pools for the fee instead of passing the cost on to consumers. The president's tone was emphatic and pop- ulist, capitalizing on pub- lic antipathy toward Wall Street. With the sharp words, he also tried to deflect some of the grow- ing skepticism aimed at his own economic poli- cies as unemployment stubbornly hovers around 10 percent. Obama and Kennedys jump into campaign BOSTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and the family of Edward M. Kennedy pushed Thursday to keep a Democrat in the late sena- tor's seat and protect a 60th vote needed to pass the health care bill that would be Kennedy's lega- cy. The stepped-up involvement of two Democratic powerhouses reflected the degree to which Obama's party worried about a Massa- chusetts contest that just a week ago looked like a lock for Democrat Martha Coakley. Stopping short of a visit to the state, Obama made his first foray into the race, asking his politi- cal backers in an e-mailed video to support Coakley in what's become a com- petitive race against Republican Scott Brown. Republicans claim they have the momentum closing in on Tuesday's special election, and Democrats fear a loss could not only cost them the health care bill but the rest of the president's leg- islative agenda heading into critical midterm elec- tions this fall. Brown has said that if elected, he would provide the 41st vote needed to effectively kill the health care bill. ''They believe that by defeating Martha, and replacing Ted Kennedy with her Republican opponent, they'll be in a position to tie up the Sen- ate and prevent a vote on health insurance reform, financial reform and other issues so important to working families in Mass- achusetts and the nation,'' Obama said. ''The out- come of these fights will probably rest on one vote in the Senate.'' Senate Democrats also invoked their late col- league, releasing a video tribute to his nearly 47- year career and his pursuit of a health care overhaul. Iraq bars 500 candidates from vote BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's electoral commis- sion on Thursday barred 500 candidates from run- ning in March's parlia- mentary election, includ- ing a prominent Sunni lawmaker, in a decision that is sure to deepen Iraq's sectarian divides. Hamdia al-Hussaini, a commissioner on the Independent High Elec- toral Commission, said the commission made the decision after receiving the list from a parliament committee that vets can- didates for ties to Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party. The decision to bar the candidates — most of whom are believed to be Sunni — potentially threatens the country's fragile security because it risks leaving Sunni voters feeling targeted and dis- enfranchised. The Sunni boycott in a January 2005 election is considered one of the key factors that deepened the insurgency. Threat prompts call for more flight security WASHINGTON (AP) — A law enforcement official says airlines have been told to do more of the toughened screening put in place after the attempted Christmas Day terrorist attack aboard a Detroit-bound flight. The official says air- lines have been told more federal air marshals will be on international flights bound for the U.S. and airports should conduct more random screening. Dramas, comedy to fill post-Leno prime-time LOS ANGELES (AP) — New and veteran NBC dramas and a comedy produced by Jerry Sein- feld will take over the bulk of the prime-time slots soon to be vacated by Jay Leno. NBC announced Thursday that the fresh- man drama ''Parenthood'' and the relocated ''Law & Order'' and ''Law & Order: Special Victim Units'' will fill three slots. Another will go to the comedy panel series ''The Marriage Ref'' from Seinfeld. ''Dateline NBC'' will fill another 10 p.m. EST slot. The new lineup will debut after NBC's cover- age of the Winter Olympics from Feb. 12- 28. Yet to be resolved is NBC's effort to make way for Leno's return to late- night TV by bumping Conan O'Brien and ''Tonight'' to midnight, a plan O'Brien has rejected. 8A – Daily News – Friday, January 15, 2010 Go to: and check out our NEW digital edition of the newspaper. Itʼs a page turner! New Year... ... 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