Clinton Praises Health-Care Bill Helping New Mothers, Mentally Ill He’ll Sign ‘With Enthusiasm’ Legislation Guided By Gop

President Clinton congratulated the Republican-controlled Congress on Saturday for setting aside bruising fights and “rigid agendas” and approving health care changes that are part of his own political platform.

The president said he will sign “with enthusiasm” legislation guaranteeing new mothers a minimum 48-hour hospital stay and stopping insurance discrimination against the mentally ill.

Clinton noted in his weekly radio address that he called for both those steps in his speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago last month.

The president was less enthusiastic about signing into law a fiercely debated bill that denies federal recognition to homosexual marriages. He said it fit his own views but should not be used as an excuse for discrimination or violence against gay men and lesbians.

The measure had been approved by Congress amid charges of gaybashing and White House assertions that Republicans were trying to put Clinton on a political hot spot. Homosexual activists were outraged by his decision to accept the bill.

Clinton signed the bill early Saturday - a little after midnight - after returning to the White House from a four-day campaign trip.

Asked why the president signed the bill at a time it might attract little news coverage, White House spokesman Mike McCurry said: “Given the motivation of the bill it is appropriate to sign the bill in the middle of the night.”

In his radio address, Clinton said forcing new mothers and their babies to leave the hospital too early is “risky and wrong.”

“And it can have severe health consequences for new babies, including feeding problems, dehydration, brain damage and stroke,” he said.

Clinton also praised Congress for reaching preliminary agreement on the mental health provision.

“From now on, insurance companies will have to set the same limits for mental illness that they set for physical illness - no more double standards,” the president said.

Final passage of an appropriations bill that includes the mental health and hospital stay provisions is expected next week.

Clinton also urged Congress to do more by making sure people have health care coverage when they are between jobs and by expanding Medicare to include mammograms to detect breast cancer and “respite care” for families of the victims of Alzheimer’s disease.

Clinton said: “This week’s agreement shows what we can accomplish when we set aside rigid agendas, put aside partisanship and work together.”