GOP Economic Package Wins Support
The Associated Press
March 7, 2002
By Curt Anderson
"The decision to go with a consensus approach (on an economic stimulus plan) came after House GOP leaders ran into criticism at a Wednesday meeting of the rank-and-file, when some lawmakers questioned an earlier, tentative decision to vote on a bill combining a controversial health care tax credit with an extension of jobless aid."
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53875-2002Mar7.html>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53875-2002Mar7.html
Comment: The extension of jobless aid had strong bipartisan support, but it was being held hostage to health care tax credits that were supported by special interests. These credits would have expanded and compounded the problems with our flawed policies in health care coverage. It is reassuring to know that enough of our elected representatives understood the problems with these seemingly benign but very treacherous tax credits so that they were able to take a strong stand in preventing this "compromise" in the name of political expediency. This skirmish was won, but the battle continues.