A group of governors say they have finished all the compromises needed to enact Medicaid reform and there is no need for a study commission proposed by President Clinton.
Final detailed compromises worked out by six governors - three Democrats and three Republicans, including Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt - were presented to congressional leaders on Thursday.The six met in Chicago this week to finalize specifics of a generally worded compromise on Medicaid reform that was endorsed earlier this year by the full National Governors Association.
House Speaker Newt Gingrich told a Capitol press conference that Republican leaders hope to have it translated into legislative language and introduced as a bill by March 25 and passed by May. "We're going to put it on the fast track," he said.
Gingrich praised bipartisan compromises made by Democratic and Republican governors as steps "needed to strengthen the work ethic and families."
Leavitt said the governors' proposals will guarantee health coverage through the state-federal program for the most vulnerable programs - as demanded by Democrats.
"It will guarantee coverage for children who are poor. It will guarantee coverage for the elderly. It will guarantee coverage for women who are pregnant," he said.
But it also provides states more flexibility in how to structure their programs and payments, as demanded by Republicans. "It gives us the tools we need to manage it better and also to expand coverage."
Leavitt added, "People have asked me why governors could come together on this while others have had trouble. I think it is because we have common experience in actually managing the program."
He added that rising Medicaid costs are hamstringing governors nationwide, and they all agree it must be reformed to save money.
Gingrich pledged that Congress would quickly pass Medicaid reform and send it to President Clinton - who has hinted he may veto it. Clinton has said he wants to separate welfare and Medicaid reform and form a commission to study Medicaid reform fully.
At the press conference, the Republican Governors Association - which is holding quarterly meetings with congressional leaders - announced it voted unanimously Thursday to endorse Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole for president.
Michigan Gov. John Engler, president of the association, said Dole would be a president "who would sign measures like Medicaid and welfare reform into law."
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bill Roth, R-Del., said, "Medicaid reform is welfare reform. If the president genuinely wants bipartisan welfare reform that will work, his administration cannot separate the two proposals."