The stakes are high, because the winner could reap a huge payback at election time. Republicans blame Clinton for vetoing legislation that would have made Medicare cuts, while the White House accuses Republicans of trying to decimate health care for seniors and devote savings to tax cuts for the wealthy. It seems unlikely that any compromise will occur before the election, given the dynamics of the issue in both parties' campaigns. Accounting approaches actually undergird the two sides strategy for solving the problem. What is interesting is that Clinton's approach was proposed by Republicans last year in their efforts to stabilize the system by transferring out costs of home health care from the Medicare Trust fund.
Imitation can be flattery if anyone remembers.
Housing Becomes a Campaign Focus as Legislation Moves Forward in Congress to Change HUD as We Have Known It. Congressional leaders in both parties and the Administration, led by HUD Secretary Cisneros, are close to limiting HUD's role or even dismantling it depending upon who is talking. Significant changes are in store for the public housing program that has operated for almost sixty years, since enactment of the 1937 Act. Transfer of FHA's role out of HUD has also been proposed. These are key provisions in the legislation being considered.