The Budget Outcome--Everything Was Decided and Nothing Was Decided

The Budget agreement, SCHIP, the Medicare Physician Fee Cut, and Medicare Advantage HMO payments.For months, I have been telling you four things:The federal budget impasse would be resolved because Democrats and Republicans weren't going to go home without their earmarks. In predicting the budget outcome you might recall my telling you to follow the "pork."SCHIP would not be allowed to expire and

Bush Administration Now Willing to Increase SCHIP Spending by $19 Billion Only Weeks After Vetoing a Bipartisan Compromise

At a February 7th Senate Finance Committee hearing, HHS Secretary Leavitt testified about the 2009 Bush budget request.This time, the Bush Administration is asking for $19.3 billion more for SCHIP over the next five years.Just a few weeks ago, President Bush vetoed the $35 billion bipartisan SCHIP extension yet again. Bush and Leavitt maintained all of last year that the program should be