The new year brings a new skirmish on the health care reform front. As leaders in the House and the Senate prepare to merge their very different versions of the health care bills, here are some great resources for following the debate:

+   The Kaiser Family Foundation -- not the insurance carrier -- provides a nifty web tool providing side-by-side comparisons of the bills. You can also choose a health care issue, like say, "individual mandate" or "financing" and make your own cheat sheet on how the bills stack up. It's comprehensive, easy to use and has become my favorite tool as I write and research health reform stories.

+   The news agency run by the Kaiser Family Foundation -- Kaiser Health News --provides a solid Q&A on some pressing issues, including: Q: I want health coverage, but can't afford it. How would the legislation affect me?

+   This Associated Press feature offers highlights of the plans and examples how they would impact real people from a 28-year-old single woman who works part time to a 60-year-old married man who is self-employed.

+   Young, healthy and still bristling at the notion of being forced to carry health insurance? Check out The Sun's website for this explanation of why Congress is mandating insurance coverage. Our site also has another helpful breakdown of the highlights of each bill. 

And with that, let the wrangling begin!