The House Democrat's stimulus proposal includes several provisions intended to aid the poor and unemployed. If passed, the economic recovery bill would grant workers receiving unemployment benefits rights to Medicaid too. The package also includes subsidies to bolster the health benefits of laid-off workers to the level they enjoyed under previous employment. This expansion of heath care contributes $127 billion in costs to the bill (which totals $825 billion), but would insure an additional estimated $8.5 million Americans. House Republicans have denounced the bill, criticizing excess government spending as the Federal deficit continues to soar. The House is set to vote on the measure today, while the Senate will consider a similar proposal next week.
See "Relief Seen for Jobless and States in Health Care Plan", Robert Pear, The New York Times, January 27, 2009