White House Urges Democrats To Pass Economic Stimulus Bill

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer on Nov. 19 "sought to ratchet up the pressure" on Senate Democratic leaders to pass an economic stimulus bill this month, CongressDaily reports (Koffler/Mitchell, CongressDaily, 11/19). The House in October approved a $100 billion GOP-sponsored bill, supported by President Bush, that would increase funding for the Social Services Block Grant program by $3 billion to allow states to provide health insurance to unemployed workers and their families (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/29). Last week, Senate Republicans blocked a substantially different bill, proposed by Democrats, that would have provided $14.3 billion to extend health benefits for unemployed workers by 13 weeks and $12.3 billion to help unemployed workers purchase health coverage through COBRA. COBRA, the 1986 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, allows unemployed workers to retain health coverage under their former employers' insurance plans by paying 102% of the premiums. The legislation would also have allowed states to extend Medicaid coverage to unemployed workers who do not qualify for COBRA and provided $1.4 billion to boost the federal match to states for Medicaid (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/15). "The House of Representatives has passed an economic stimulus. Now it's time for the Senate to do the same," Fleischer said (CongressDaily, 11/19). Lawmakers have recessed for Thanksgiving "without even beginning bipartisan negotiations" on a bill (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/19).

Ad Criticizes Daschle
The Tax Relief Coalition, a pro-business lobbying group, has been airing radio ads in South Dakota to urge Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) to "quickly move" an economic stimulus bill, CongressDaily reports. The ad "hits" Daschle and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) for traveling to Mexico over the weekend "while the stimulus plan was languishing." A Daschle spokesperson said the majority leader made "three separate offers" on Nov. 15 to begin negotiations on a bill, but received "no response" from Republicans. "We are ready and willing to negotiate an economic recovery package, but the Republicans refuse to come to the table," the spokesperson said (CongressDaily, 11/19).