The "bailout plan" itself, H.R. 5685 (the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008) , is being bundled as an amendment to H.R.1424, a Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) Bill that modifies sections of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 "to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans." The pure perfection of their fit is surely undeniable to all but the most cynical.
According to the Library of Congress, the Kennedy Bill passed the House and was received in the Senate in March of this year. Oddly enough, Wednesday was the first time it was ever brought to the Senate floor for consideration.
The new Bill also snuck in Charlie Rangel's (D-NY) H.R. 6049 (the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008) which had already added the ‘Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008'' in addition to "Heartland and Hurricane Ike Disaster Relief" to its broadly green legislation. Simpatico measures, to be sure.
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