Health care reform hurdles mounting; Largely partisan votes advance distinct plans in House and Senate.

Byline: JERRY GEISEL

Divisions emerged even among the Democrats that control Congress as committees began action on health care reform legislation last week, raising doubts that lawmakers can agree on a final package.

Three of the five congressional panels with jurisdiction on the issuethe Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee and Ways and Means Committeepassed distinct packages intended to bring the United States closer to universal health care coverage.

Even as the committees acted, there were warning signals of the hurdles the legislation faces.

The first warning signal was the Senate committee's 13-10 party-line approval of legislation, with all Republican members opposing the …