$200 Billion Jobs Bill Stalled in House

AP/CBS

A $200 billion jobs bill that includes extending unemployment benefits and COBRA subsidies through the end of the year is still stalled in the House.

Democrats want to pass it this week, but they are stuck over a provision that would prevent doctors from seeing a reduction in Medicare reimbursement rates in the first week of June.

House Democrats don't want to vote on such a costly bill (it adds $134 billion to the deficit) if it's not going to pass the Senate. It also raises taxes for some businesses operating overseas. There are $40 billion in new taxes overall.

The House bill would stop the reduction in reimbursement rates for 3.5 years, but House aides say it's looking like they can only do it for two years if it is going to pass the Senate. Negotiations are continuing on the issue.

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid called House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and told him the Senate could do two years -- which should make members feel more confident that the Senate could get the 60 votes they need for passage if that change is made.

Cutting the "doc fix" (which keeps reimbursement rates from being cut) would be a relatively easy way to bring down the bill's total price tag.

When asked if they can bring a bill to the floor today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would only say, "possibly."

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(CBS)

Jill Jackson is a CBS News Capitol Hill Producer. You can read more of her posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow her on Twitter.

[realist51]

if everybody else in america has had to take reductions in wages and benefits why not the doctors too? the medicare payments were to be a supplement not to cover the whole cost of seeing a doctor. whats the problem ? see the doctor let him file his claim then bill the patient for the rest. seems to me that the medical practitioners are looking for more goverment welfare. don't want to see the patient i guess they can take there needs else were. cut the costs pass the bill.

[wfw3536]

So last year we spent 870 billion, oh that right we borrowed most of it on a stimilus bill and now this administration has the nerve to ask for another 200 billion. And the stimilus bill was suppose to bring unemployment down to under 8% and we're looking at 9.9%.

[usdefender1]

People, please vote NO on this spending monster. It is a complete disaster, and a horrible offense to the U.S. citizen. it is direct deficit largess of corrupt spending and not in the national interest. Know too that if Nancy Pelosi is for it, you sure don't want it!

[sjc_1]

I would not reimburse Cobra, that is just a give away to the insurance companies.