Washington – Senate and House negotiators said Sunday that they had agreed on a framework for a compromise bill that would provide health insurance to 4 million children while relaxing some of the limits on eligibility imposed by the Bush administration.
The compromise sets the stage for a battle with President Bush, who has denounced similar legislation as a step “down the path to government-run health care for every American.”
Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman, said Sunday: “The House and the Senate still appear to be far away from legislation that we would find acceptable.”
Congressional aides worked through the weekend to meld the Senate and House bills. At issue is the future of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Supporters of the Senate bill, passed last month by a vote of 68 to 31, had enough votes to overcome a presidential veto. Only five Republicans voted for the House bill when it was approved, 225 to 204. The compromise is likely to pick up some Republican votes in the House, but probably not enough to override a presidential veto, Republicans said.
The compromise would allow states to cover nearly half of the children who are uninsured. About 6.6 million youngsters are now covered under the program. The framework devised by congressional negotiators would provide $60 billion for the Children’s Health Insurance Program over the next five years.The proposed compromise would increase tobacco taxes to help pay for expansion of the child health program.
DETROIT
UAW strike likely if no GM accord struck
Contract negotiations between General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers reached a critical point Sunday as union officials hoped for an agreement but prepared again for a possible strike today.
Leaders at factories across the country reported progress and optimism, but said that if no agreement was reached Sunday night, the union would walk out this morning.
GM’s contract with the UAW was to expire at midnight Friday, but the union extended it on an hour-by-hour basis. One local union official who asked not to be identified said the main outstanding issues were retiree health care expenses and promises from the company that it will build new vehicles at UAW-represented factories. GM wants the union to take over responsibility for retiree health care costs using a company-funded trust. The UAW was asking for job guarantees in exchange for taking on the costs.
CHARLESTON, W.Va.
Torture-rape suspects set to appear in court
Six white people accused of holding a black woman captive while they tortured and sexually assaulted her are scheduled to make their initial court appearances this week.
But the proceedings may be delayed because public defenders representing two of the defendants have recused themselves, as they had represented some of the defendants in the past, Logan County Prosecutor Brian Abraham said.
The defendants are charged with assaulting Megan Williams for more than a week at a trailer in Big Creek. Police say she was tortured, sexually assaulted, forced to eat animal droppings and taunted with a racial slur.
The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sexual assault, but Williams, 20, agreed to release her name.
FAWNSKIN, Calif.
Wildfires force 2,000 people to evacuate
Firefighters Sunday were battling two wildfires in Southern California that forced nearly 2,000 people to evacuate.
The larger blaze burned 15,433 acres – about 24 square miles – in the San Bernardino National Forest and was 12 percent contained. About 340 residents were ordered to leave the Fawnskin area and another 1,200 voluntarily left Green Valley Lake, a Forest Service spokeswoman said.
Cooler temperatures were expected to aid fire crews Sunday.
In San Diego County, a wildfire erupted Saturday near Julian, leading to the evacuation of about 400 people from the subdivision of Whispering Pines.
The Angel Fire, which grew to 1,000 acres overnight, was 20 percent surrounded. Full containment of the blaze was expected by Tuesday.
Online: Watch video coverage of the California wildfires
BEIJING
China warns Taiwan after pro-U.N. rally
China condemned a massive rally organized by Taiwan’s president calling for the island’s membership in the United Nations, warning Sunday that Beijing was now preparing for a “serious situation.”
The statement did not say what constituted a serious situation, although China has long threatened to take military action if Taiwan declares formal independence or indefinitely delays unifying with China.
More than 100,000 Taiwanese took to the streets Saturday to support a planned referendum on U.N. membership, backing President Chen Shui-bian’s pro- independence policies and defying previous Chinese threats.
The rally in Kaohsiung was part of an 18-month government- orchestrated campaign to emphasize Taiwan’s separateness from the mainland. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory.
