Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Capitol Hill Watch

Democrats Plan To Pass Long-Term Extension of SCHIP Unless Lawmakers Agree This Week on Legislation To Expand, Reauthorize Program

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has given congressional negotiators until the end of this week to reach an agreement on legislation that would reauthorize and expand SCHIP, a House Democratic aide said Tuesday, CQ Today reports. If an agreement cannot be reached, Democrats will work to pass a long-term extension of the program that includes additional funds for states that are facing budgetary shortfalls for their programs, according to the aide. The extension would last until next fall.

Pelosi "is committed to finding a solution, but if we cannot find one this week, we are done," the aide said, adding, "We have walked the extra mile trying to find a solution."

House Republicans said that Democrats have yet to give an official reply to a proposal they submitted on Nov. 15. A Republican leadership aide said, "Before the Democrats start talking about deadlines, they first should get back to House Republicans on the proposal given to them two-and-a-half weeks ago that puts low-income children first, not middle-class adults and illegal immigrants."

Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) said that a group of House Republicans on Wednesday will meet to discuss a proposal from Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). "It looks pretty good," Biggert said. However, CQ Today reports that it is "not clear how many of her colleagues agree or whether Democrats would support the changes Grassley and Hatch have proposed" (Wayne, CQ Today, 12/4).