House Panel OKs Bill To Block New Medicaid Rules

The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed a bill that would block Medicaid rules supported by the Bush administration from going into effect until March 2009. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said the president's senior advisers would urge the president to veto the bill. Gov. Schwarzenegger said the Bush administration's proposed rules would cost California $12 billion over five years.

• "Committee Brushes Aside Bush Veto Threat" (Freking, AP/Austin American-Statesman, 4/16).
• "Gov. Schwarzenegger Applauds Congressional Action to Block Drastic Medi-Cal Cuts" (Office of the Governor release, 4/16).