Bipolar disorder

Eagleton was on the Democratic ticket, led by former South Dakota Sen.

George McGovern, for two weeks in the summer of 1972.

He left the ticket after reporters Robert S.

Boyd and Clark Hoyt of Knight Newspapers learned of his illness and Eagleton was forced to disclose that he'd undergone psychiatric treatment and electroshock therapy and had been hospitalized for depression three times.

While the parity legislation has broad support from rank-and-file members of Congress, Republican leaders have blocked final votes in previous sessions.

Democratic leaders are promising to get it on President Bush's desk in the current session of Congress.

Many business groups oppose a new mandate on insurance coverage, saying it would result in higher costs that would force some employers to scale back other coverage.

Proponents say the added costs would be minuscule.

The legislation would affect any group health plans that cover 50 people or more.

Backers of the Senate version of the bill say that at least 113 million Americans would benefit from it.

Sen.

Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., one of three chief Senate sponsors, said that 20 percent of Americans would have some form of mental illness this year but that only a third of them would receive treatment.

The other chief sponsors are Republicans Pete Domenici of New Mexico and Michael Enzi of Wyoming.

The bill passed a Senate committee last month.

In the House, Patrick Kennedy teamed up with Rep.

Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., on Wednes...

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