Inside Politics

Bush’s lawyer

President Bush has chosen Fred Fielding, formerly the top lawyer in the Reagan administration, to be his White House counsel.

The announcement will be made today, according to a Bush administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the appointment had not been made.

Mr. Fielding, 67, will become Mr. Bush’s counsel just as newly empowered Democrats in Congress plan deeper scrutiny of the administration. From the Iraq war to environmental policy and secret surveillance, the Democrats who now control both the House and Senate are armed with subpoena power and ready to summon panels of witnesses.

Mr. Fielding, a longtime Washington lawyer, will replace Harriet Miers, Mr. Bush’s failed Supreme Court nominee and longtime adviser. She submitted her resignation Thursday after six years in the White House. It will take effect Jan. 31.

Mr. Fielding served as President Reagan’s counsel from 1981 to 1986, where one of his assistants was John G. Roberts Jr., now the chief justice of the United States. Under President Nixon, Mr. Fielding served as deputy White House counsel from 1972 to 1974 and associate counsel from 1970 to 1972.

More recently, he served on the bipartisan panel that investigated the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Arnold’s plan

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday proposed to extend health coverage to nearly all of California’s 6.5 million uninsured, promising to spread the cost among businesses, individuals, hospitals, doctors, insurers and government.

The plan contains elements that are likely to provoke opposition from a wide range of powerful interests, including doctors, hospitals and insurers, as well as employers and unions. But it also contains incentives for each of them, the Associated Press reports.

All children, regardless of their immigration status, would be covered through an expansion of the state and federal Healthy Families program.

“I don’t think it is a question or a debate if they ought to be covered. … The federal courts have made that decision — that no one can be turned away,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said. “The question really isn’t to treat them or not to treat them. The question really is how can you treat them in the most cost-effective way.”

Under Mr. Schwarzenegger’s plan, all Californians would be required to have insurance, although the poorest would be subsidized. Businesses with 10 or more employees would have to offer insurance to their workers or pay 4 percent of their payroll into a state fund. Smaller businesses would be exempt.

Also, insurers would no longer be allowed to deny coverage to people because of their medical problems.

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