The latest compromise on the health care overhaul does not include a public option.

Senators negotiated the deal Tuesday night, although specifics are not yet available.

Liberals and moderates have been discussing an alternative including a private insurance arrangement to be supervised by a federal agency. Talks have also centered on opening up Medicare to uninsured Americans.

An amendment to tighten restrictions on abortion spending was defeated.

While senators were debating the plan, people gathered across the country Tuesday night to hold vigils.

In Harrisonburg, a couple dozen people turned out to express their support for a public option.

The candles they held symbolized the lives of people who died because they didn't have access to health care.

"The public option has been scaled back, so it's almost meaningless now anyway. It's very unfortunate," says Timothy Jost, an organizer of the Harrisonburg vigil and a law professor at Washington & Lee. "When people keep talking about how there's not cost control in the bill, there it was, but it was taken out."

Democrats hope to pass health care reform legislation before Christmas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.