41.   Cohen correctly envisioned Medicare and Medicaid, the health program for the poor, as the first incremental steps toward a national health-care system.

42.   Congress gave its blessing to existing health programs for children in New York, Pennsylvania and Florida.

43.   Congressional negotiators have agreed on legislation that would allow older military retirees to sign up for the same health benefits program now offered to civilian federal employees.

44.   Clinton would cover half of the cost by curbing the growth of Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor.

45.   Councilman Hal Bernson objected to plan, saying the tobacco dollars should be directed to anti-smoking education and health programs.

46.   Community health programs, for example, would be protected.

47.   Congress is now writing an appropriations bill to provide money for federal health programs.

48.   Democrats also want to pump more money into Medicaid, the government health program for low-income people.

49.   Democrats have made gains in past elections by arguing that Republicans want to injure the popular health program.

50.   Current recipients of Medicaid, the government health program for poor people, would be allowed to join the new Medicare program or use subsidies to purchase private insurance.