Washington in 60 Seconds: Democrats Prep for Health Care Endgame Without GOP

Good morning, Capitolists! The House and Senate are in "pro-forma" session today, with legislative business in the chambers slated to start next week. But it only takes two to tango, so with a handful of members back in town, Capitol Hill wheeling and dealing is already underway.

Read about that, and everything else making news in Washington, in the next 60 seconds:

Top Dems Meeting on Health Care (GOP Not Invited). President Obama will meet with congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Steny Hoyer today at the White House to lay the groundwork for the endgame on a health care reform bill. Democrats in the House and Senate still have differences on everything from abortion language to who pays the tab, so the group will try to find just enough common ground to shove a final amended bill through both chambers ASAP.

Terror Talks Today. The president will also meet with his top homeland security advisers to receive a full report on the attempted Christmas Day terrorist attack. To better understand that meeting, be sure to read Peter Baker's fascinating piece in this week's New York Times Magazine detailing Obama's struggle to move away from a Bush-style approach to terrorism while also keeping the country safe. Look for remarks from Obama on the subject later this afternoon.

Steele Bullish on 2010 (Sort Of). On Sean Hannity's Fox News show last night, GOP Chairman Michael Steele said he feels good about the upcoming 2010 elections, but not that good. When Hannity asked if he thought Republicans would take back the House, Steele said, "Not this year." But the GOP leader did predict later that Republicans would have "nice pickups in the House."

Third Crasher Says He's No Salahi. Carlos Allen, the man named yesterday as the "third crasher" at the White House state dinner, insists to Politico that he was never there. But Miss Maryland Galaxy has a different story: "Yes, he told me he went and that he had a good time." The real smoking gun? Allen's Facebook page, where he listed himself as a fan of . . . Michaele Salahi.

International Gangster Rap for Beyoncé. Bootylicious singer Beyoncé performed in St. Barts over the holiday for Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy's son, Hannibal, reports the New York Post. But some fellow vacationers were "aghast." One tweeted, "Jigga [Jay-Z], Beyonce & Usher were @ Nikki Beach performing for Khadafy family, WTF?"