Today, it was reported, HERE, AND HERE, that the House of Representatives passed a bill extending ARRA. I am still awaiting that information from the Daily Record.
The actual title appears to be: H.R.4260 “Transitional Federal Medical Assistance Percentage Act”.
Title: To provide adjusted Federal medical assistance percentage rates during a transitional assistance period.
Sponsor: Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] (introduced 12/10/2009) Cosponsors (7)
Related Bills: S.2833
Latest Major Action: 12/10/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
If it is this bill, it is designed to last in some fashion four years, ending December 31, 2113. It includes adjustments; some are negative. It includes provisions for COBRA and unemployment compensation. It has provisions to States regarding how the bill, as an act, will articulate with their funds. There may be others that were packaged with it.
A similar and related bill has been introduced to the Senate as noted below:
S.2833
Title: A bill to provide adjusted Federal medical assistance percentage rates during a transitional assistance period.
Sponsor: Sen Reed, Jack [RI] (introduced 12/3/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Related Bills: H.R.4260
Latest Major Action: 12/3/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Taxpayers for Common Sense has a fairly snarky comment about it’s passage In the House’s effort to get this done by the Holiday recess.
[..”But they weren’t done yet – next up, the jobs bill – basically another round of stimulus. This bill would direct $27.5 billion toward more infrastructure spending, increase aid to states and extend several benefit packages. Unlike the two earlier bills, this one is unlikely to survive the Senate intact, if at all, since the Senate is momentarily more leery of swelling this year’s predicted $1.5 trillion budget deficit. “..]
Based on TCS’s view, we all better call our Senators this week. I suppose it’s possible they still haven’t heard how much we are hurting out here. Or, maybe they really think that a .2% bureaucratic paper shuffle really constitutes an improvement in the unemployment rate.
Grab and Keel 
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