Lawmakers Doubt Agreement on SCHIP Legislation Will Be Reached, Expect To Approve Long-Term Extension
Prospects for "a breakthrough agreement" on legislation that would expand and reauthorize SCHIP "look bleak," and lawmakers expect that Congress will pass a long-term extension of the program instead, CQ Today reports. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on Wednesday said he expects Congress will approve an extension of the program before adjourning for the year. He added that Republicans would support including additional funds for states facing shortfalls in their programs (Wayne, CQ Today, 12/5).
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had set a deadline of the end of this week to reach an agreement on SCHIP legislation. Pelosi "is committed to finding a solution, but if we cannot find one this week, we are done," a House Democratic aide said. House Republicans said that Democrats have yet to give an official reply to a GOP proposal submitted on Nov. 15 (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 12/5).
Democrats opposed the plan because it included a cap on Medicaid income eligibility. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.), one of the authors of that proposal, on Wednesday said, "How do you set a deadline that everything's off if you don't respond to the proposal that's on the table?" Republicans also are considering a proposal by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who have worked closely with Democrats to craft SCHIP legislation. However, it "is not clear whether the Grassley-Hatch offer is backed by Democrats," according to CQ Today.
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) on Wednesday said that "there continue to be meetings at the staff level" on SCHIP legislation, but he does not know whether an agreement will be reached (CQ Today, 12/5).
